Exploring Caregiver Burden and Related Factors Among Primary Caregivers of Patients With Cancer in Taiwan

Objectives: To explore burden and its related factors among primary caregivers of patients with cancer.

Sample & Setting: This study was conducted in an oncology ward at a medical center in southern Taiwan. A total of 137 dyads of patients with cancer and their primary caregivers were recruited.

Methods & Variables: This cross-sectional correlational study used a structured questionnaire to assess the burden of primary caregivers. Data on patients’ basic characteristics and disease profiles were extracted from medical records from January to June 2019. Linear regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the burden of primary caregivers.

Results: The majority of primary caregivers were female (70%) and aged younger than 65 years (85%). Overall, the mean primary caregiver burden score was 38.83 (SD = 12.86), with spiritual burden ranking highest among the four domains assessed. Factors related to overall primary caregiver burden included psychiatric symptoms, daily care hours, patient age, and the lack of rotational support.

Implications for Nursing: Hospice and oncology nurses can actively identify psychiatric symptoms in primary caregivers, targeting high-risk groups to provide timely resources or psychiatric referrals, aiming to alleviate future caregiver burden.