Abstract

Due to the rapid progress of industrialization, the expansion of the nuclear family, and an increase in women's social activities, the burden of care of cancer patients has increased, so that all family members are now involved in care. We compared the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between members of families of cancer patients (hereafter, cancer families) and members of cancer-free families (non-cancer families). The data were from the Community Health Survey (2012). The study population included respondents at least 30 years of age. Data were adjusted for the following covariates: sex, age, education, marital status, household income, economic activity, household type, chronic disease, and perceived health status. Frequency analysis, analyses of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. Among 163,495 respondents, 3,406 (2.1%) were part of a cancer family and 160,089 (97.9%) were part of a non-cancer family. Cancer families had lower EQ-5D scores than non-cancer families. However, by subgroup, the scores had significant association between cancer and non-cancer families only for females and for those who worked. There was a significant relationship between HRQOL scores and being a family member of a cancer patient. This indicates that the responsibility for care has been extended to the entire family, not only the primary caregiver.

Highlights

  • Cancer is a disease that threatens the health and lives of patients

  • We compared the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between members of families of cancer patients and members of cancer-free families

  • We investigated and compared the HRQOL of cancer families and non-cancer families, with the aim of providing basic data that will facilitate the development of intervention strategies to promote the QOL cancer families

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Cancer is a disease that threatens the health and lives of patients. Because of aging and changes in lifestyle, the incidence of cancer in 2012 in Korea was about 445.3 per 100,000 population, and continues to increase annually. More than half of cancer patients survive for longer than 5 years, and cancer is considered as a chronic disease that needs continuous management (Han et al, 2006). Data were adjusted for the following covariates: sex, age, education, marital status, household income, economic activity, household type, chronic disease, and perceived health status. By subgroup, the scores had significant association between cancer and non-cancer families only for females and for those who worked. Conclusions: There was a significant relationship between HRQOL scores and being a family member of a cancer patient. This indicates that the responsibility for care has been extended to the entire family, the primary caregiver

Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call