Ann Surg Treat Res.  2021 Aug;101(2):69-78. 10.4174/astr.2021.101.2.69.

Unmet needs and quality of life of caregivers of Korean breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

• Lee JW
• Lee J
• Lee MH
• Lee SK
• Kim WS
• Jung SY
• Kim Z
• Lee J
• Youn HJ
• the Study of Multi-disciplinARy Teamwork of breast cancer survivorSHIP (SMARTSHIP)

• KMID: 2518999
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2021.101.2.69

Abstract

Purpose
As the survival rates of cancer patients have been increasing due to early diagnosis and technological advances in treatment, their caregiver burden has also emerged as an important issue. In view of this situation, this study aims to investigate the unmet needs and quality of life of caregivers of Korean breast cancer survivors.
Methods
A multicenter cross-sectional interview survey was performed among 160 caregivers of Korean breast cancer survivors. Caregivers who gave written informed consent to participate completed the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool for Cancer Caregivers and EuroQol-5 Dimensions.
Results
The mean age of the caregivers was 46.4 years, 44.4% (71 of 160) were spouses of patients, and 52.5% (84 of 160) were personally taking care of cancer survivors. Unmet needs were highest in the ‘healthcare staff’ domain and the item with the highest level of unmet needs was ‘needed information about the current status of the patient’s illness and its future courses.’ Poorer quality of life was closely related to higher levels of unmet needs. In multiple regression analysis, older age, employment, the presence of religion, and higher levels of stress and despair in daily life were associated with higher levels of unmet needs.
Conclusion
The most prevalent unmet need in Korean breast cancer caregivers was found in the ‘healthcare staff’ domain, and their quality of life was closely related to unmet needs. Therefore, healthcare staff is required to make efforts to accurately identify breast cancer caregivers vulnerable in terms of unmet needs and address their unmet needs.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Caregivers; Needs; Quality of life

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Needs by quality of life of study subjects.

Reference

1. Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018; 68:394–424. PMID: 30207593.

2. National Cancer Information Center (NCIC). 2017 Cancer Statistics [Internet]. Goyang: National Cancer Center;2021. cited 2021 Jan 4. Available from: http://www.cancer.go.kr/.

3. Shin DW, Cho J, Roter DL, Kim SY, Sohn SK, Yoon MS, et al. Preferences for and experiences of family involvement in cancer treatment decision-making: patient-caregiver dyads study. Psychooncology. 2013; 22:2624–2631. PMID: 23893390.

4. Hubbard G, Illingworth N, Rowa-Dewar N, Forbat L, Kearney N. Treatment decision-making in cancer care: the role of the carer. J Clin Nurs. 2010; 19:2023–2031. PMID: 20920028.

5. Wang T, Molassiotis A, Chung BP, Tan JY. Unmet care needs of advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers: a systematic review. BMC Palliat Care. 2018; 17:96. PMID: 30037346.

6. Lambert SD, Harrison JD, Smith E, Bonevski B, Carey M, Lawsin C, et al. The unmet needs of partners and caregivers of adults diagnosed with cancer: a systematic review. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2012; 2:224–230.

7. Grunfeld E, Coyle D, Whelan T, Clinch J, Reyno L, Earle CC, et al. Family caregiver burden: results of a longitudinal study of breast cancer patients and their principal caregivers. CMAJ. 2004; 170:1795–1801. PMID: 15184333.

8. Hodgkinson K, Butow P, Hunt GE, Wyse R, Hobbs KM, Wain G. Life after cancer: couples' and partners' psychological adjustment and supportive care needs. Support Care Cancer. 2007; 15:405–415. PMID: 17043776.

9. Northouse L, Williams AL, Given B, McCorkle R. Psychosocial care for family caregivers of patients with cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012; 30:1227–1234. PMID: 22412124.

10. Hwang SS, Chang VT, Alejandro Y, Osenenko P, Davis C, Cogswell J, et al. Caregiver unmet needs, burden, and satisfaction in symptomatic advanced cancer patients at a Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. Palliat Support Care. 2003; 1:319–329. PMID: 16594221.

11. Shin DW, Park JH, Shim EJ, Park JH, Choi JY, Kim SG, et al. The development of a comprehensive needs assessment tool for cancer-caregivers in patient-caregiver dyads. Psychooncology. 2011; 20:1342–1352. PMID: 22102594.

12. Kim MH, Cho YS, Uhm WS, Kim S, Bae SC. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Korean version of the EQ-5D in patients with rheumatic diseases. Qual Life Res. 2005; 14:1401–1406. PMID: 16047514.

13. Pickard AS, Wilke CT, Lin HW, Lloyd A. Health utilities using the EQ-5D in studies of cancer. Pharmacoeconomics. 2007; 25:365–384. PMID: 17488136.

14. Berardi R, Ballatore Z, Bacelli W, Silva RR, Menichetti ET, Marcellini M, et al. Patient and caregiver needs in oncology: an Italian survey. Tumori. 2015; 101:621–625. PMID: 26108244.

15. Romito F, Goldzweig G, Cormio C, Hagedoorn M, Andersen BL. Informal caregiving for cancer patients. Cancer. 2013; 119(11 Suppl):2160–2169. PMID: 23695928.

16. Heckel L, Fennell KM, Reynolds J, Osborne RH, Chirgwin J, Botti M, et al. Unmet needs and depression among carers of people newly diagnosed with cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2015; 51:2049–2057. PMID: 26208461.

17. Nikoletti S, Kristjanson LJ, Tataryn D, McPhee I, Burt L. Information needs and coping styles of primary family caregivers of women following breast cancer surgery. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2003; 30:987–996. PMID: 14603356.

18. Fiszer C, Dolbeault S, Sultan S, Brédart A. Prevalence, intensity, and predictors of the supportive care needs of women diagnosed with breast cancer: a systematic review. Psychooncology. 2014; 23:361–374. PMID: 24677334.

19. Armes J, Crowe M, Colbourne L, Morgan H, Murrells T, Oakley C, et al. Patients' supportive care needs beyond the end of cancer treatment: a prospective, longitudinal survey. J Cl in Oncol. 2009; 27:6172–6179.

20. Mason TM. Information needs of wives of men following prostatectomy. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2005; 32:557–563. PMID: 15897932.

21. Friðriksdóttir N, Saevarsdóttir T, Halfdánardóttir SÍ, Jónsdóttir A, Magnúsdóttir H, Olafsdóttir KL, et al. Family members of cancer patients: needs, quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Acta Oncol. 2011; 50:252–258. PMID: 21231786.

22. Park SM, Kim YJ, Kim S, Choi JS, Lim HY, Choi YS, et al. Impact of caregivers' unmet needs for supportive care on quality of terminal cancer care delivered and caregiver's workforce performance. Support Care Cancer. 2010; 18:699–706. PMID: 19484480.

23. Stenberg U, Ruland CM, Miaskowski C. Review of the literature on the effects of caring for a patient with cancer. Psychooncology. 2010; 19:1013–1025. PMID: 20014159.

24. Sklenarova H, Krümpelmann A, Haun MW, Friederich HC, Huber J, Thomas M, et al. When do we need to care about the caregiver?: supportive care needs, anxiety, and depression among informal caregivers of patients with cancer and cancer survivors. Cancer. 2015; 121:1513–1519. PMID: 25677095.

25. Kim Y, Given BA. Quality of life of family caregivers of cancer survivors: across the trajectory of the illness. Cancer. 2008; 112(11 Suppl):2556–2568. PMID: 18428199.

26. Kim Y, Kashy DA, Spillers RL, Evans TV. Needs assessment of family caregivers of cancer survivors: three cohorts comparison. Psychooncology. 2010; 19:573–582. PMID: 19582798.

27. Printz C. Cancer caregivers still have many unmet needs. Cancer. 2011; 117:1331. PMID: 21425130.

28. Kitrungroter L, Cohen MZ. Quality of life of family caregivers of patients with cancer: a literature review. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2006; 33:625–632. PMID: 16676018.

29. Northouse LL, Mood D, Kershaw T, Schafenacker A, Mellon S, Walker J, et al. Quality of life of women with recurrent breast cancer and their family members. J Clin Oncol. 2002; 20:4050–4064. PMID: 12351603.

30. Kim Y, Carver CS. Unmet needs of family cancer caregivers predict quality of life in long-term cancer survivorship. J Cancer Surviv. 2019; 13:749–758. PMID: 31342303.