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Volume 12 Issue 4 ( October-December ) 2023

Original Articles

Burden Faced by Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Cross Sectional Study Conducted in Southern India
Punithavathi D, Bhuvaneswaran D, Murali S

Background:Globally, cancer continues to be one of the major contributors for the morbidity and mortality. Family members of patients who are diagnosed with cancer and undergo treatment feel obligated to care for their loved ones. Care giving leads to disturbances in the physical, financial and psychological wellbeing of family members. The present study was undertaken to assess the burden faced by caregivers of cancer patients.Methods:The present study was conducted in Department of Neuroscience, Government Stanley medical college. In the present study 40 caregivers of cancer patients were included in the study. Assessment of Caregivers' burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI).Result:In cancer caregivers, depression is high among 40- 60 years .The chronic illness among the caregivers were found to be 67.5%. Majority of the caregivers were female, middle age groups, Married, Nuclear family, urban population and illiterate in educational status. Most of them were employed, supporting their family and cancer patients. Most of the caregivers were their spouses itself. The major group of caregivers were care giving for less than one year because of the high mortality in the cancer patients. According to Zarit Burden Interview, 33.5% had little burden, 20% had mild burden, 27.5% had moderate burden and 20% had severe burden.Conclusion:Caregiver burden has negative effects on quality of life of caregivers and also patients. Caregiver burden on long term may cause psychiatric comorbidities. Cancer care hospitals should be equipped with interventions like counselling services and support groups to deal with miserable multifaceted burdens encountered by the caregivers of the cancer patients.

 
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