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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-07-2012 | Original Article

Caregivers’ morbidity in palliative care unit: predicting by gender, age, burden and self-esteem

Authors: Gema Costa-Requena, Ramon Cristófol, José Cañete

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 7/2012

Abstract

Purpose

This study assesses psychological distress suffered by caregivers of patients with a disease at an advanced and terminal state admitted at a palliative care unit. Specifically, these areas were examined in how distress was perceived: the contribution of caregiving burden, caregivers’ self-esteem, caregivers’ age and gender.

Methods

The sample constituted of 159 caregivers. Measurements included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess distress, the shortened version of the Zarit Burden Inventory and Rosenberg self-esteem scale.

Results

Approximately 77% of the caregivers reported probable significant distress (HADS ≥12), with a similar proportion with anxiety (76.1%) and depression (77.4%) within the caregivers’ symptomatology. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the caregivers’ self-esteem (p < 0.01) and caregivers’ burden (p < 0.01) were stronger predictors of caregivers’ distress than the socio-demographic characteristics, age or gender (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

A high prevalence of morbidity was noticed in caregivers of patients admitted at the palliative care unit. The early provision of psychological support to caregivers by healthcare staff may indeed help to decrease comorbidity symptoms.

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Title: Caregivers’ morbidity in palliative care unit: predicting by gender, age, burden and self-esteem
Authors: Gema Costa-Requena
Ramon Cristófol
José Cañete
Publication date: 01-07-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 7/2012
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1233-6

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Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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