Variables que predicen la aparición de sobrecarga en cuidadores primarios infor¬males de niños con cáncer

Abstract

ResumenEl propósito del estudio fue identificar las variables psicológicas y las características del cuidado que predicen la aparición de carga en cuidadores primarios informales (CPI) de niños con cáncer, en un hospital de la ciudad de México. La muestra no probabilística constó de 100 participantes, quienes contestaron una batería integrada por la encuesta de salud para el CPI, la escala de carga del cuidador de Zarit, los inventarios de ansiedad y depresión de Beck, la escala de apoyo familiar para CPI y la escala de modos de afrontamiento al estrés de Lazarus y Folkman. Los resultados confirmaron que las mujeres (en la mayoría de los casos la madre del paciente) actúan como CPI de niños con cáncer. Las variables predictoras de la carga en el modelo de regresión múltiple por pasos fueron la depresión (R 2 =0,228), el número de áreas afectadas en la vida del cuidador (R 2 =0,319) y la ansiedad (R 2 =0,348). En total las tres variables explicaron el 34% de la varianza. Mientras que el estilo de afrontamiento, el apoyo familiar, el tiempo de cuidado del paciente, las horas diarias de cuidado de éste y el número de actividades que realiza no resultaron variables relevantes en la predicción de la carga. Los hallazgos podrían ser útiles para diseñar intervenciones que promuevan el bienestar físico, social y emocional de esta población, previniendo que los cuidadores se conviertan en pacientes.Palabras clave: Niños con cáncer, cuidadores, carga, ansiedad y depresión. AbstractThe purpose of the study was to identify the psychological characteristics and care variables that predict the onset of primary informal caregivers burden (CPI) of children with cancer, in a hospital in Mexico City. The nonrandom sample consisted of 100 participants, who answered an integrated battery conformed by a health interview for the CPI, the load scale for the Zarit caregiver, the anxiety and depression of Beck inventory, the family support for the CPI scale and the scale modes of coping with stress by Lazarus and Folkman. The results confirmed that women react as CPI to children with cancer, and in most cases the patient's mother. The variables of burden model stepwise multiple regressions were depression (R 2 =0.228), the number of affected areas in the caregiver's life (R 2 =0.319) and anxiety (R 2 =0.348). In all the three variables explained 34% of variance. While coping style, family support, time to patient care, daily care hours and the number of activities carried out were not significant variables in predicting overload. The findings of this study could be useful for designing interventions that promote physical, social and emotional wellbeing of this population, preventing the patient from becoming caregivers.

My role and responsibility: mothers’ perspectives on overload in caring for children with cancer*

“…The present study clearly unveiled that the mother in the role of caregiver of the child with cancer in the hospitalization process is permanently subjected to multiple overload factors. As in other studies, this study showed evidence that overload is a multidimensional experience (6,8,25) .…”

“…It is usual for the mothers to undertake the main caregiver role and to get emotionally involved with the situation, while the fathers (paternal figure) act as providers and tend to emotionally distance themselves. This condition is easily perceived, especially in Latin countries where the mother plays several roles and is expected to develop competence in caring for the sick child (4)(5)(6) . Given these circumstances, it is necessary to value and foster the father's participation in caring for the sick child as a measure towards sharing this care with the mother; a desire expressed by some mothers in this study (26) .…”

“…This work requires constant and almost full--time vigilance by the mother. In addition, the mother has difficulty expressing her overload when she is experiencing the situation (4,6) .…”

“…Results of studies have revealed that the maternal figure is the main caregiver of a child who has cancer. They adjust their working hours or even abandon their jobs to do routine housework and to meet the needs of their child (5)(6)(7) .…”

Validity and reliability of the Mexican resilience measurement scale in families of children with chronic conditions

“…In Mexico, to date, no studies have validated the RESI-M or some other scale used to measure resilience [ 33 , 34 ] in the caregiver population. This is despite the fact that the activities they carry out make them a vulnerable population [ 35 ], prone to presenting symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression [ 36 – 38 ] as well as experiencing a decrease in their quality of life [ 39 , 40 ].…”