Burden of Family Caregivers of Patients with Oral Cancer in Home Care in Taiwan

Abstract

Oral cancer is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in Taiwan. The complications and side effects of oral cancer treatment cause a tremendous burden on patients’ family caregivers. This study explored the burden on primary family caregivers of patients with oral cancer and its related factors. One hundred and seven patients with oral cancer and their primary family caregivers were included through convenience sampling. The Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) scale was employed as the primary research instrument. The primary factors of caregiver burden, in descending order, were disrupted schedules (M = 3.19, SD = 0.84), a lack of family support (M = 2.82, SD = 0.85), health problems (M = 2.67, SD = 0.68), and financial problems (M = 2.59, SD = 0.84). The CRA scores of the caregivers differed significantly in terms of education level (t = 2.57, p < 0.05) and household income (F = 4.62, p < 0.05), which significantly predicted caregiver burden (R2 = 0.11, F = 4.32, p = 0.007). The study results provide a reference for healthcare professionals to identify the factors for family caregiver burden, as well as the characteristics of patients and family caregivers particularly vulnerable to caregiver burden, thus improving family-centred care.