Caregiver burden and associated factors amongst carers of women with advanced breast cancer attending a radiation oncology clinic in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The responsibility of caring for patients with advanced cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is mostly shouldered by family members because of paucity of institutional facilities. There is a growing concern that the number of women needing treatment for advanced breast cancer is rising at an unprecedented rate in Nigeria.Aim: To assess the caregiver burden and its associated factors amongst family caregivers of women with advanced breast cancer.Setting: The study was conducted at the radiation oncology clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted amongst 157 eligible family caregivers of women with advanced breast cancer. The family caregivers completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire, which included the socio-demographic data, the caregiving process and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Logistic regression was used to identify factors, and ethical approval was obtained.Results: Over half (53%) of the respondents were males with spousal caregivers dominantly constituting 27.4% of all respondents, closely followed by daughters (25.5%) of the care recipients. The mean ZBI score was 29.84 ± 13.9. Most (72%) of the caregivers experienced burden. Factors associated with caregiver burden were previous hospitalisation of the care recipient (odds ratio [OR] = 3.74, confidence interval [CI]: 1.67 to 8.38) and perceived dysfunction in patients activities of daily living (OR = 2.57, CI: 1.14 to 5.78).Conclusion: Family caregivers of women with advanced breast cancer experience burden of care. Recognition of this vulnerable population and the care recipient as a dyad is a sine qua non in mitigating the burden associated with their caregiving role.

Extremely Distant and Incredibly Close: Physical Proximity, Emotional Attachment and Caregiver Burden

“…Prior reports have suggested that caregivers who are advanced in age [ 66 ], women caregivers [ 67 ], those with lower levels of socioeconomic status [ 68 , 69 ] and those caring for a care recipient with cognitive impairment [ 70 , 71 ], cancer [ 72 , 73 , 74 ] and heart disease [ 75 , 76 ] experience greater burden; however, our results did not reveal any significant differences. However, the effect of some of these sociodemographic variables may be mediated by other caregiving or care-receiving characteristics [ 77 ].…”

Assessment of psychological stress among family care takers of cancer subjects in India- A cross-sectional study

“…Higher burden was also found in studies conducted in Saudi Arabia and in Nigeria (10,11). Lower rate of stress was seen in some studies done among more developed as well as urban areas (19,4).…”

Spiritual Well-Being and Care Burden in Caregivers of Patients with Breast Cancer in Turkey

“…The caregivers who participated in this study had a moderate CB. Studies on CB reported moderate CB (Jite et al, 2021 ; Zuo et al, 2020 ) as well as severe CB (Garcia et al, 2020 ). Excessive CB may cause the care receiver to receive inappropriate and unsafe care (Lafferty et al, 2016 ).…”

“…Caregivers help patients with their daily work, provide medication and manage symptoms (Sun et al, 2019 ). In this process, caregivers' CB and needs are often unnoticed, and the treatment process is often shaped by the needs of the patient (care recipient) (Jite et al, 2021 ). Caregivers often receive neither adequate education nor social support (Adelman et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Caregivers often receive neither adequate education nor social support (Adelman et al, 2014 ). Studies on CB have reported a moderate CB (Jite et al, 2021 ; Lee et al, 2018 ; Vahidi et al, 2016 ; Yusuf et al, 2011 ; Zuo et al, 2020 ). However, some studies report advanced CB (Garcia et al, 2020 ).…”