Self-perceived burden to others: patient and family caregiver correlates

Abstract

Aims: To provide further evidence about the prevalence and correlates of the sense of "self-perceived burden" (SPB) to others, and to examine its association with caregiver reports of burden.

Methods: The participants were 65 patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. Patients completed measures of SPB and family members completed a caregiver burden scale.

Results: SPB was experienced at minimal to mild levels by 35% of patients, and at moderate to extreme levels by another 28%. It was correlated with some physical symptoms, but more frequently with psychological symptoms. The family members of patients who reported that SPB was a significant problem had higher scores on the caregiver burden scale than family members of other patients (p=0.048), although the overall correlation was modest.

Conclusions: SPB is a common and distressing concern for many patients receiving palliative care and is associated with a number of other distressing concerns.