Quality of life of family caregivers at 2 years after a relative’s cancer diagnosis.

Kim Y, Spillers RL. Psycho-Oncology. 2009 Apr 27.

Although a growing body of research has documented the quality of life (QOL) of cancer survivors beyond the initial phase of the survivorship, similar knowledge about family caregivers of cancer survivors remains limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to understand the complex aspects of the QOL of family caregivers of cancer survivors at two years after the diagnosis and to learn more about what factors impact a caregivers' QOL.

In this study, a total of 1,635 caregivers of cancer survivors participated in the nationwide Quality of Life Survey for Caregivers. Multiple parts of QOL were evaluated, including mental and physical health, psychological adjustment and spirituality at two years after the diagnosis of their relatives' cancer.

Results found that family caregivers reported normal levels of QOL after two years post-diagnosis, except that they were more likely to have an increased awareness of spirituality than were individuals who personally experience a chronic illness. In addition, the caregivers' age and income and the survivor's level of mental and physical functioning had a significant impact on the caregivers' own QOL.

The findings suggest that younger, financially burdened caregivers who are actively providing care approximately two years after the initial diagnosis may benefit from interventions to help them adjust psychologically. In addition, older, relatively poor caregivers may benefit from programs to reduce the physical burden of care giving.