Caregiving burden and health-promoting behaviors among the family caregivers of cancer patients

Abstract

PURPOSE: The role of family caregivers in cancer care continues to expand, and it has been suggested that the caregiving influences health-promoting behaviors. The purpose was to describe the caregiving burden and health-promoting behaviors of the family caregivers of cancer patients and to determine the relationship between caregiving burden and health-promoting behaviors.

METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted involving 227 family caregivers of adult cancer patients. Caregiving burden was measured using the Korean version of the Zarit Burden Interview (K-ZBI), and health-promoting behaviors were determined using structured questionnaires.

RESULTS: Considerable burden was experienced by the caregivers of cancer patients (K-ZBI score of 36.51 ± 12.54, mean ± SD). However, caregiving burden did not influence caregivers' physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, or adherence to cancer screening tests. When the caregivers were compared to controls from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V utilizing adjusted proportions, caregivers were less likely to perform physical activities (16.0% vs. 29.1%, p < 0.001), but more likely to adhere to alcohol consumption recommendations (76.3% vs. 35.0%, p < 0.001) and receive cancer screening services for stomach (68.5% vs. 56.8%, p < 0.011), breast (81.4% vs. 58.8%, p < 0.001), and cervical cancer (75.3% vs. 55.0%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The caregivers of cancer patients reported considerable caregiving burden. However the burden was not associated with health-promoting behaviors. Physical inactivity among caregivers may require interventions to promote health of caregivers.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Relieving caregiving burden and improving caregivers' physical activities need to be considered as separate care issues in planning interventions for caregivers of cancer patients.