Cancer Res Treat.  2013 Sep;45(3):226-233.

Psychosocial Impact of Cancer Patients on Their Family Members

• Lim SM
• Kim HC
• Lee S

Abstract

PURPOSE
A population-based study was conducted in order to examine the characteristics of family members of cancer patients in comparison with the general population and also to evaluate the psychosocial impact of cancer patients on their family members.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES IV) (2007-2009) dataset, we identified 460 cancer patients and then selected family members of these patients who were aged 20 years or older (n=565). The control group was sampled from members of families without a cancer patient with matching for sex and age (n=2,260). Serial conditional logistic regression models were used for comparison of characteristics between family members of cancer patients and subjects in the control group.
RESULTS
Family members of cancer patients were less employed (57.9% vs. 63.0%, p<0.001), more functionally limited (20.2% vs. 16.5%, p=0.032), and had lower self-rated health (p=0.023) compared with sex and age-matched control subjects. They also had a significantly higher level of stress (79.7% vs. 76.1%, p=0.008), history of depression (12.9% vs. 10.2%, p=0.035), and current depressive symptoms (5.5% vs. 3.5%, p=0.038). However, higher physical activity was reported in family members of cancer patients (13.6% vs. 9.6%, p=0.003) than in control subjects. The presence of a cancer patient in the family showed an association with current depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 1.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 2.48; p=0.028), however, the association was no longer significant after adjustment for household income, education level, and employment status (p=0.304).
CONCLUSION
Family members of cancer patients are more susceptible to depression, probably due to adverse change in socioeconomic status. Use of multidisciplinary approaches for promotion of psychological health and well-being is essential.

Keyword

Neoplasms; Cancer patients; Family; KNHANES

MeSH Terms

Aged
Depression
Employment
Family Characteristics
Humans
Korea
Logistic Models
Motor Activity
Social Class

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A flow chart showing recruitment of the study population. In Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys IV, 31,705 individuals aged>1 year were sampled by the health interview. From the initial sample of 31,705 individuals, 6,834 individuals did not complete the survey and participants under 19 (n=6,465) were excluded because they did not complete questionnaires for health-related quality of life; 460 cancer patients were excluded from the study. A total of 565 family members of cancer patients and 17,351 members of the general population were age-, sex-matched to 1 to 4. The final study population included 565 family members of cancer patients and 2,260 matched control subjects.

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