Burden among informal caregivers of cancer patients: Magnitude and contributing factors
Adelina Alcorta-Garza, David Hernández Barajas, Celia Beatriz González Alcorta, Fernando Alcorta Núñez, Carlos Horacio Burciaga Flores, María de Lourdes Garza Rodríguez, Juan Francisco González Guerrero, Oscar Vidal GutiérrezAbstract
Objectives
To estimate the magnitude of caregiver burden and its related factors among informal caregivers of cancer patients.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted at a single University Cancer Center. It included primary caregivers of cancer patients ≥18 years who had provided unpaid care for at least 2 months ( n = 277). The Zarit Burden Interview, the 28-item General Health Questionnaire, and the Friedemann’s Effectiveness of Family Functioning Scale were used. Multiple binary logistic regression was applied. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated.
Results
The mean burden score was 21.8 ± 12.9; 52% of caregivers reported minimal or no burden, 39% mild, 8.6% moderate, and 0.4% severe. Somatic symptoms (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02–1.27) were positively associated with caregiver burden. In contrast, greater family functioning was protective (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.82–0.96). No sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers were significantly associated with caregiver burden. Among patient characteristics, stage IV disease, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 1 or 2 compared with 0, and male sex were significantly associated with higher caregiver burden.
Significance of results
Findings reinforce well-established associations while extending international evidence to a region previously unrepresented in the literature. The absence of associations between caregivers’ sociodemographic characteristics and caregiver burden, together with the finding that male patient sex was associated with greater caregiver burden, may help explain previously reported inconsistencies. Caregiver assessment should be incorporated into comprehensive cancer care.