Quality of life of spousal caregivers of breast cancer survivors: A cross-sectional analytical study from Nepal

Abstract

Background: In Nepal, the spouses of breast cancer survivors represent informal caregivers. Caregiving has an impact on their mental health as well as their quality of life (QoL). Objectives: The main objective of the study was to assess the QoL and its predictors among spousal caregivers of breast cancer survivors in Nepal. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in June-July 2022 among 64 spousal caregivers of breast cancer survivors identified from the registry of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Nepal. Information, including sociodemographic details, was collected using a structured questionnaire. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Caregiver QoL Index-Cancer (CQoLC) were also used for this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. Results: The mean age of the spouses was 47.6 years (standard deviation [SD], 8.42), and most (26 [40.6%]) had completed at least secondary education. The mean scores for anxiety and depression among the breast cancer survivors were 10.0 (SD, 3.7), and 7.4 (SD, 4.4), respectively, and those among the spouses were 7.5 (SD, 3.2), and 5.1 (SD, 3.6), respectively. The total score for QoL of the spouses was 56.0 (SD, 13.1). The spouse's anxiety score significantly correlated with the spouse's QoL score (r = 0.532, P < 0.001). Additionally, the anxiety score of the spousal caregivers significantly predicted the QoL of spousal caregivers (F = 25.864, P < 0.001, R 2 = 0.294). Conclusion: Spousal caregivers of breast cancer survivors are vulnerable to psychological morbidities like anxiety and depression. Anxiety has a particularly significant impact on their QoL. Providing timely screening, additional help, and including the spousal caregivers in healthcare interventions might help to bridge this gap in healthcare (Registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of Thailand: TCTR20220410003).