The caregiver burden and related factors on quality of life among caregivers for patients with lung cancer

Abstract

Objective: To explore the influence of caregiver burden on quality of life among caregivers for patients with lung cancer in Beijing. Methods: From August to October in 2017, 336 caregivers for patients with primary lung cancer from a large tertiary hospital were recruited to this survey by convenient sampling method. The Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) Instruments were used to evaluate the caregiver burden and quality of life. The demographic characteristics were evaluated using Pearson chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. In addition, using the 4 dimensions of quality of life scale as the dependent variables while the 5 dimensions of caregiver burden and demographic variables as the explanatory variables, we conducted the multiple linear stepwise regression analysis (the defaults were 0.15 for FORWARD and BACKWARD). Results: The scores of family caregivers' esteem, impact on schedule, impact on finances, impact on health and lack of family support were 4.30±0.47、3.55±0.74、3.10±0.91、2.60±0.78、2.32±0.73, respectively. Regression results showed that demographic factors, including marriage, occupation and relationship with patients and impact on health, caregivers' esteem and impact on finances dimensions of caregiver burden were the factors which influenced the quality of life of caregivers. Conclusions: The caregiver burden in patients with lung cancer is mainly focused on impact on schedule and finances. Impact on health, finances and caregivers' esteem (seven items were reverse-scored) are significantly negatively correlated with quality of life of caregivers.