Changes in and modifiable patient- and family caregiver-related factors associated with cancer patients’ high self-perceived burden to others at the end of life: A longitudinal study
Su-Ching Kuo
Department of Nursing, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorWen-Chi Chou
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorMing-Mo Hou
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorChiao-En Wu
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorWen-Chi Shen
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorFur-Hsing Wen
Department of International Business, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Siew-Tzuh Tang
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Correspondence
Siew-Tzuh Tang, School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorSu-Ching Kuo
Department of Nursing, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorWen-Chi Chou
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorMing-Mo Hou
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorChiao-En Wu
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorWen-Chi Shen
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorFur-Hsing Wen
Department of International Business, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Siew-Tzuh Tang
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Correspondence
Siew-Tzuh Tang, School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This prospective, longitudinal study explored changes in and modifiable factors associated with high self-perceived burden to others (SPB) among a convenience sample of 276 dyads of terminally ill Taiwanese cancer patients and their family caregivers over patients’ last year of life. High SPB was evaluated by scores ≥20 on the Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Modifiable factors of high SPB included factors related to both patients (i.e., symptom distress, functional dependence and coping capacity) and caregivers (i.e., caregiving burden, depressive symptoms and quality of life [QOL]). Modifiable factors of high SPB were identified by multivariate logistic regression modelling with the generalised estimating equation while controlling for demographic factors. We found that patients tended to experience high SPB if they had more symptom distress. In contrast, the likelihood of high SPB was significantly lower if patients had greater coping capacity and their caregivers reported better QOL. High SPB was not associated with patients’ functional dependence, caregivers’ caregiving burden and depressive-symptom level while providing end-of-life (EOL) care, and time proximity to death. Healthcare professionals may alleviate terminally ill cancer patients’ high SPB at EOL through palliative care that adequately manages patients’ physical symptom distress, enhances patients’ coping capacity and improves family caregivers’ QOL.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflicts.
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