4165 - The Relation between the Symptom Burden of Hospitalized Patients with Incurable Cancer and the Quality-of-Life of Their Family Caregivers

Background

Family caregivers (FCs) play important roles in the care provided to patients with incurable cancer. These patients experience a wide range of distressing symptoms. This symptom burden may add to the burden of FCs and consequently may have a negative impact on their quality of life (QoL). This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the symptom burden in a cohort of patients with incurable cancer and the QoL of their FCs.

Methods

The study included 94 dyads of hospitalized incurable cancer patients and one of their FCs. The symptom burden among patients was assessed using the revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) and the QoL of their FCs was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form (MOS SF-36) questionnaire.

Results

Nausea was the most common symptom to associate with poorer QoL scores. There was a significant negative correlation between nausea and the following MOS SF-36 scales: physical functioning (r=-0.219, p = 0.034), role limitations due to physical health (r =-0.0228, p = 0.027), pain (r=-0.404, p < 0.001), general health (r =-0.222, p = 0.031) and health change (r=-0.317, p = 0.002). Other symptoms that correlated significantly with at least one of the MOS SF-36 scales were weakness, drowsiness, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, depression and wellbeing. The total ESAS-r score correlated significantly with poorer scores on the pain (r=-0.248, p = 0.016) and health change (r=-0.311, p = 0.002) scales of MOS SF-36. In addition; older FCs age, hours of care per day, total period of care, FCs employment and inadequate income correlated significantly with poorer scores of at least one of the MOS SF-36 scales.

Conclusions

The high symptom burden experienced by patients with incurable cancer may have a negative impact on the QoL of their FCs, especially the physical aspect.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Clinical Oncology Department, Menofia University.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.