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- Title
Quality of life and mental health in family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer.
- Authors
Song JI; Shin DW; Choi JY; Kang J; Baik YJ; Mo H; Park MH; Choi SE; Kwak JH; Kim EJ; Song, Jong Im; Shin, Dong Wook; Choi, Jin Young; Kang, Jina; Baik, Young Ji; Mo, Hana; Park, Myung Hee; Choi, Sung Eun; Kwak, Jeong Ho; Kim, Eun Jin
- Abstract
<bold>Purpose: </bold>The burden of serving as a caregiver is known to impair quality of life (QOL) and mental health caregivers of cancer patients. However, few studies focused on the caregivers of terminal cancer patients. Furthermore, none has compared them with those of general population.<bold>Methods: </bold>We surveyed the family caregivers of terminal cancer patients who received palliative care services in Korea. Control individuals were selected from participants in the first round of the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and were matched with family caregivers using the propensity score method to optimize our comparative analysis.<bold>Results: </bold>Health-related QOL was significantly lower in the caregiver group than in the controls. Caregivers experienced more frequent episodes of depression during the previous year than did controls (36.3% vs. 12.4%, P < 0.0001). Caregiver burden, such as "impact on health," "financial problems," and "lack of family support" had a negative influence on the health-related QOL and mental health. However, "disrupted schedule" had a positive influence on the QOL and mental health.<bold>Discussion: </bold>Our results show that the family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer experience mental health problems and deterioration of health-related QOL. Culturally appropriate caregiver support programs are needed to decrease the impact of caregiving on the QOL and mental health of family caregivers in Korea.
- Publication
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2011, Vol 19, Issue 10, p1519
- ISSN
0941-4355
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00520-010-0977-8