Caring ability of urban and rural family caregivers: association with overburden, stress and coping.

Fernanda Duarte Siqueira,Nara Marilene Oliveira Girardon-Perlini,Rafaela Andolhe,Evelyn Boeck dos Santos,Roselaine Ruviaro Zanini,Steffani Nikoli Dapper

doi:10.1590/s1980-220x2019019103672

Fernanda Duarte Siqueira, Nara Marilene Oliveira Girardon-Perlini + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-220x2019019103672

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Abstract

To correlate caring ability with overburden, stress and coping of urban and rural family caregivers of patients undergoing cancer treatment. Cross-sectional study, carried out in a referral hospital for cancer treatment, with urban and rural caregivers who responded the following instruments: questionnaire of sociodemographic characterization of the caregiver and the care provided, Perceived Stress scale, Burden Interview scale and Brief COPE. Pearson's correlation test was used for statistical analysis, with a significance level ≤5%. A total of 163 urban caregivers and 59 rural caregivers participated in the study. Between the caring ability and stress, a negative and moderate correlation was found in rural caregivers. In the relationship between the caring ability and the overburden, there was a statistically significant correlation in urban caregivers in the interpersonal relationship and perception of self-efficacy factor. Between coping and the caring ability, a positive and moderate correlation was identified in coping focused on the problem in the knowledge dimension in urban caregivers. Urban caregivers had greater intensity of overburden and coping focused on the problem in relation to the caring ability.

Highlights

Cancer is one of the chronic non-communicable diseases with the greatest economic impact on health services, both globally and nationally[1]
When relating the measures of caring ability with stress, a negative and weak correlation was observed in the total care ability (r=-0.165; p=0.035) and in the dimensions of knowledge (r=-0.211; p=0.007) and courage (r=-0.165; p=0.035) in www.scielo.br/reeusp urban caregivers
These results show that, with the increase in the total care ability and the dimensions of knowledge and courage, there was a decrease in perceived stress among urban caregivers, or vice versa

Summary

Introduction

Cancer is one of the chronic non-communicable diseases with the greatest economic impact on health services, both globally and nationally[1]. In a situation of incapacitating chronic illness, the demands for care can increase, generally requiring that a family member assume this responsibility as a caregiver[3]. The assumption of this role occurs gradually or suddenly, for which the caregiver may not be prepared, requiring the development of caring abilities[4]. The ability to care is understood as a potential that a person has to assume the role of caregiver of a relative or significant person who has an incapacitating illness[5] Under such considerations, this ability includes cognitive, instrumental and attitudinal dimensions that can be identified and measured according to indicators of knowledge, courage and patience[5]. The need to use certain coping strategies that favor dealing with the illness and care process stands out[7]

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