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Level of Burden and Health-Related Quality of Life in Caregivers of Palliative Care Patients

Author

Listed:
  • Juana Perpiñá-Galvañ

    (Department of Nursing, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
    Institute of Health and Biomedical Research of Alicante (ISABIAL-FISABIO Foundation), 03010 Alicante, Spain)

  • Núria Orts-Beneito

    (Institute of Health and Biomedical Research of Alicante (ISABIAL-FISABIO Foundation), 03010 Alicante, Spain)

  • Manuel Fernández-Alcántara

    (Institute of Health and Biomedical Research of Alicante (ISABIAL-FISABIO Foundation), 03010 Alicante, Spain
    Department of Health Psychology, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

  • Sofía García-Sanjuán

    (Department of Nursing, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
    Institute of Health and Biomedical Research of Alicante (ISABIAL-FISABIO Foundation), 03010 Alicante, Spain)

  • María Paz García-Caro

    (Department of Nursing, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain)

  • María José Cabañero-Martínez

    (Department of Nursing, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
    Institute of Health and Biomedical Research of Alicante (ISABIAL-FISABIO Foundation), 03010 Alicante, Spain)

Abstract

The complexity of palliative care means that the emotional distress and burden that primary family caregivers suffer under can be particularly high. The objective of this study was to determine the level of burden endured by these primary family caregivers and to identify the variables that predict it in the caregiving relatives of people who require home-based palliative care. A descriptive-correlational cross-sectional study was conducted. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from caregivers through a self-administered questionnaire that included questions from the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). A total of 77 caregivers participated; 66.2% were women, and the mean age was 61.5 years. Most (62.3%) were providing care to cancer patients. From among these data, the presence of anxiety as a clinical problem (48.1%), a high average fatigue score (FAS) of 23.0 ( SD = 8.5), and the prevalence of intense overload (41.6%) stood out. We found statistically significant correlations between the variables of burden, fatigue, post-traumatic growth, anxiety, and depression, with the latter two being the main predictive variables of burden. In addition, caregiver burden was associated with a worsening of health. Identifying the factors that influence the appearance of overburden will allow the specific needs of careers to be assessed in order to offer them emotional support within the healthcare environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Juana Perpiñá-Galvañ & Núria Orts-Beneito & Manuel Fernández-Alcántara & Sofía García-Sanjuán & María Paz García-Caro & María José Cabañero-Martínez, 2019. "Level of Burden and Health-Related Quality of Life in Caregivers of Palliative Care Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:23:p:4806-:d:292445
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Inmaculada Valero-Cantero & Cristina Casals & Milagrosa Espinar-Toledo & Francisco Javier Barón-López & Francisco Javier Martínez-Valero & Nuria García-Agua Soler & María Ángeles Vázquez-Sánchez, 2023. "Effect of Self-Chosen Music in Alleviating the Burden on Family Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Randomised Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-10, March.
    2. Patricia Otero & Isabel Hita & Ángela J. Torres & Fernando L. Vázquez, 2020. "Brief Psychological Intervention Through Mobile App and Conference Calls for the Prevention of Depression in Non-Professional Caregivers: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-15, June.

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