Caregiving burden among relatives of cancer patients in Vietnamese national oncology hospital

Abstract

<b>Background</b> Family involvement has significant influences on decision-making processes, the receiving and sharing of information, and the provision of providing physical and emotional supports for patients. This role is commonly causes a of substantial burden and caregivers often experience negative psychological, behavioral, and physiological effects on their daily lives and well-being. Caring for people with cancer can have significant impacts on caregivers as well as caregivers’ outcomes, which in turn can have negative impacts on the people being cared for. However, their burden of care does not attract appropriate was insufficiently paid attention in the Vietnamese health care system. <b>Objectives</b> To describe the caregiving burden among family caregivers of cancer patients and to explore the factors associated with the levels of caregiving burden among relatives of patients with cancer. <b>Methods</b> One-hundred and seven family caregivers of oncology patients in a Vietnamese National Oncology Hospital participated in the cross-sectional study by completing available questionnaires including the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). <b>Results</b> The average ZBI score was 48.9 ± 13.7, in which 72% of participants reporteding high caregiving burden levels and 28% of them experienceding mild and moderate levels. Higher burden was reported in older caregivers (r=0.21, p=0.03), and female caregivers (t=-3.51, p<0.001), caregivers who had no other supported in caring (t=-2.78, p<0.01), and caregivers spent longer hours caring time at hospital (r=0.40, p<0.01), as well as at home (r=0.46, p<0.01). Patient’s spouse reported higher burden than patient’s offspring (F=4.33, p<0.01). Regarding patients’ background factors, male patients (t=2.29, p<0.02) and patients who were breadwinners (t=3.13, p=0.02), diagnosed with cancer for more than 2 months (F=4.26, p=0.01) and undergone radiotherapy (t=2.02, p=0.05) or surgery therapy (t=2.17, p=0.03) experienced greater burden than the others. Importantly, the study found that the less independent patients were, the higher burden of care that caregivers would perceive (p<0.05). <b>Conclusions</b> The study results provided evidence concerning the high caregiving burden levels among relatives of cancer patients within Vietnamese cultural contexts. Caregivers’ and patients’ background factors were significantly associated with different levels of burden that caregivers perceived. This study provided an important foundation for future development of evidence-based interventions to support caregivers of cancer patients in Vietnam.