Abstract
Caring for a patient with terminal cancer poses difficulties for family caregivers. Although families of patients with cancer have been classified by type, little is known about the relation between family functioning and quality of life (QOL) in family caregivers. This study aimed to develop a typology of family functioning in family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and then examine the relation between the family functioning and QOL of family caregivers. From December 2013 to August 2014, fifty-one family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer were recruited at three hospitals in Tokyo, Japan. Perceptions of family functioning were assessed with the Family Relationship Index, and its three subscores were classified into three groups by cluster analysis. Caregivers’ QOL was measured with the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer. The average total FRI score among 51 caregivers was 8.5 (SD = 2.8). Family functioning was categorized into three clusters: supportive (n = 12), communicative (n = 30), or conflictive (n = 8). Their QOL was categorized into two groups: the communicative group, with relatively high confliction, showed high QOL comparable to the supportive group. Family functioning in the families of patients with terminal cancer hospitalized in general wards was not good. For improving the QOL of family caregivers, it may be important for the family members to express their feelings and distress if they have conflicts.
Highlights
Caregivers play an important role in providing support to patients with terminal cancer
Families of patients with cancer have been classified by type, little is known about the relation between family functioning and quality of life (QOL) in family caregivers
This study aimed to develop a typology of family functioning in family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and examine the relation between the family functioning and QOL of family caregivers
Summary
Caregivers play an important role in providing support to patients with terminal cancer. Caregivers and other family members experience many difficulties during the challenging period of end-of-life care [1]. While caring for patients with terminal cancer, they frequently encounter difficult decisions, and their roles in the family change. These may cause difficulties for family members to express their feelings and distress, which is related to impaired family functioning [2]. Functioning has been linked to a variety of health outcomes. Good family functioning is related to a lower incidence of psychological disorders in family and bereaved caregivers [3]. Families in conflict tend to show a higher level of depression and anxiety [4] [5]
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