Family caregivers and indicators of cancer-related distress

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Increases in the cost of medical care coupled with shorter hospital stays and an aging population are but a few of the reasons why home care for patients has become so important. This study examines variables that contribute to distress among lay-caregivers who provide home care to cancer survivors. Participants consisted of 135 survivor-caregiver dyads in which the caregiver was a member of the survivor's family or a close friend. Measures of caregiver distress were selected from the Ferrell et al. (1995) quality of life tool; predictor variables included cancer survivor and caregiver demographics, physical and emotional health status and behavioural characteristics. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that, jointly, the three sets of indicators accounted for 35% of caregiver distress. Standardized regression coefficients indicated that relational deprivation (feelings of loss of togetherness, planned activities and contact with other individuals) was the most important predictor of caregiver distress (pps<0.05) also were significant predictors in the final trimmed model. Results suggest that cancer support services that address the needs of the care receiver with the protection of the family caregiver in mind should be considered.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: