Evaluation of the quality of life among caregivers of cancer patients

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of caregivers of cancer patients admitted to the Medical Oncology Department of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine and to identify the factors influencing it. Methods This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 300 cancer patients and 300 caregivers from the oncology outpatient clinic and ward. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) and the Caregiver Quality of Life Index–Cancer (CQOLC). Results Among the caregivers who participated in the study, 51.0% were female, 76.7% were married and the mean age was 43.57±14.53 years. Forty per cent of patients had an ECOG performance score of 3–4. The mean total CQOLC score for caregivers was 87.55±20.31. Caregivers with higher income had higher quality of life scores (p=0.004). Quality of life was significantly lower among caregivers providing care alone compared with those sharing the caregiving burden (p<0.001). It was determined that caregivers’ quality of life scores decreased as patients’ ECOG performance status worsened ( p<0.001 ). Conclusion The quality of life of individuals providing care to cancer patients alone was found to be lower. The quality of life is higher among individuals with a high income level who provide care to breast cancer patients. The deterioration of patients’ performance status is associated with a decrease in the quality of life of caregivers.