Examining the role of subjective and objective burden in carer health-related quality of life: the case of colorectal cancer

Hanly, Paul, Maguire, Rebecca, Hyland, Philip and Sharp, Linda (2015) Examining the role of subjective and objective burden in carer health-related quality of life: the case of colorectal cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 23 (7). pp. 1941-1949. ISSN 1433-7339

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Abstract

Purpose
Our aim was to investigate associations between the subjective burden of care and health-related quality of life (both physical and mental) within colorectal cancer patient carers in Ireland, with supplementary analysis of carer objective factors.

Methods
Two hundred twenty-eight colorectal cancer informal carers were sent a postal questionnaire between August 2010 and March 2011 which included the Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) and the SF-12v2. Multiple regression analysis assessed whether five CRA domains (family support, finances, schedule, health and esteem) predicted carer mental or physical health. Between-group comparisons investigated differences in these domains across objective factors.

Results
One hundred fifty-three carers (82 % female) completed the questionnaire (response rate = 68 %). Carers’ mean physical component summary (PCS) was 48.56 (SD = 10.38) and mean mental component summary (MCS) was 49.22 (SD = 9.7). Five CRA factors explained 30 % of variance in the PCS score and 28 % of variance in the MCS score. Health burden (β = −.76, p < .001) and schedule burden (β = .28, p = .01) were significant predictors of PCS. MCS was significantly predicated by financial burden (β = −.24, p = .01) and esteem (β = −.18, p = .03). Younger carers, spouses, those with a comorbid condition and those with no income change had significantly lower PCS. There were no statistically significant group differences for carer mental health.

Conclusions
Our results demonstrate the need to recognise the distinctive aspects of the impact of caring (i.e., physical and mental) on carers and that different domains of subjective carer burden and objective factors impact differently on each of these. This has important implications for those delivering support to carers over the course of the survivorship continuum.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > Life sciences > Medical sciences > Pathology > Tumors > Cancer H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Non Profit Organisations. Voluntary Sector. > Carers
Divisions:	School of Business > Staff Research and Publications
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	23 Feb 2015 14:41
Last Modified:	15 May 2018 11:23
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/1910

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