Publication:

Other side of breast cancer: caregiver burden and its associated factors in Jammu region of UT of J and K

Background In recent scenario across the world, ever rising number of cancer cases are emerging as one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality both in developing and developed countries. Breast cancer patients need care and support for which family members are the primary caregivers. The study aimed to assess caregiver burden and its associated factors amongst family caregivers of breast cancer patients.

Methods This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 177 eligible caregivers of women with breast cancer attending the Radiation Oncology Clinic in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Jammu city of UT of J&K, using consecutive sampling technique. The caregivers were administered a questionnaire comprising of socio-demographic data and the Zarit- Burden Interview (ZBI). Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 23.0.

Results In majority of cases, spouse was the caregiver (80.3%). Mean Zarit Burden score was 26.7 ±10.18, and about 2/3rdof respondents reported mild level of caregiver burden. Age, marital status, type of family, literacy status, caregiving intensity were found to be significantly associated with caregiver burden (p<0.05).

Conclusions Though majority of the respondents outlined moderate caregiver burden, yet identification of both vulnerable caregivers and care-recipients as a dyad would go a long way in mitigating this burden.