Family burden and influence factors analysis for breast cancer patients during non-hospitalized period

Abstract

Objective To investigate the status and influencing factors of family burden for non-hospitalized patients with breast cancer. Methods General information of the patients, family burden scale of disease (FBS) and family APGAR index questionnaire were used to carry out the cross-sectional study in 201 patients with breast cancer and their care givers in Affiliated Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March to April, 2016. Results Total score of FBS for the 201 breast cancer patients was (23.03±10.77) points; scores of dimentions of economic burden, daily activities, recreational activities, family relationship, physical health, mental health were (1.26±0.57), (0.95±0.49), (0.87±0.55), (0.75±0.52), (0.82± 0.52), (0.92±0.60) points, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that FBS scores of different gender, age, educational level, occupation, marital status, course of disease, surgery, tumor grade, family care were different (P<0.05); multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that cancer classification, educational level , family APGAR index would affect FBS score which could explain 36% of the total variation of the family burden. Correlation analysis showed that the patients' family care and family burden were negative related (r=-0.485, P<0.01). Conclusions Family burden of non-hospitalized patients with breast cancer is at moderate level. Educational level and tumor grade are independent factors affecting breast cancer patients' family burden. The family burden of the breast cancer patierrts is related with their family care. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Family burden of disease; Family care degree; Influencing factors