Evaluation of the Burden of Caregiving of Individuals Caring for Cancer Patients

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 591 - 596, 30.09.2025

Hasan Küçükkendirci , Esra Hacılar , Şeyma Betül Yüksek , Tahir Kemal Şahin , Lütfi Saltuk Demir , Yasemin Durduran , Mehmet Uyar

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1633846

Abstract

Objective: Cancer is a public health problem caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in the body, which has increased especially in recent years. Caregivers are individuals who are involved in the diagnosis, treatment and termination of the disease and may encounter physical, social or emotional problems at this stage. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the caregiving burden of caregivers and the factors related to it.
Methods: The study was designed in a cross-sectional study. The data related to the study were collected by face-to-face interview method with 362 people who gave verbal consent to participate in the study between 5-25 March 2024 at a University Hospital. For the study, a data collection form consisting of 27 questions was used by the researchers by reviewing the literature.
Results: The median total score obtained from the scale was 31.0 (23.0-41.3). Accordingly, the participants had a moderate level of caregiving burden. According to the study, the burden of caregiving was found to be higher in women, those living in extended families, those residing in villages and those with chronic diseases compared to others (p<.05).
Conclusion: It has been determined that caregivers have a certain level of burden according to various situations. Mental health trainings can be given to individuals on this subject. It can be integrated with home health services to ensure that those who stay with the people they care for can spare time for themselves to reduce the burden of care.

Keywords

Patient Care , Cancer , Caregiver Burden

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