title: Psychological distress, fatigue, burden of care, and quality of life in primary caregivers of patients with breast cancer undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of sociodemographic variables, psychological distress, fatigue, and quality of life (QOL) on burden of care in primary caregivers of patients with breast cancer undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, correlational, predictive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the eastern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience sample of 102 primary caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed the sociodemographic data form, Piper Fatigue Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, QOL Index, and Measurement of Objective and Subjective Burden Scales prior to BMT during an oncology clinic visit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depression, anxiety, fatigue, QOL, and burden of care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean fatigue scores were low. Primary caregivers experienced moderate state anxiety and low trait anxiety. Some experienced severe depression. The objective burden of care mean score was slightly higher than the subjective mean score. Mean QOL scores were low. All variables were significantly intercorrelated, except subjective burden and temporal and sensory fatigue. Significant correlations were found between age and subjective burden, and income with fatigue temporal subscale, and state and trait anxiety. Family subscale of QOL was a significant predictor of objective burden. Age and trait anxiety were significant predictors of subjective burden.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary caregivers of patients with breast cancer scheduled for BMT experience fatigue, anxiety, burden of care, and low QOL. These caregivers may have tried to meet their needs and the patients' needs simultaneously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare providers need to proactively assess primary caregivers of patients for fatigue, psychological distress, burden of care, and decreased QOL and provide nursing interventions tailored to individual needs.
authors.affiliation: International Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD, USA. fannie@son.jhmi.edu <fannie@son.jhmi.edu>
authors.forename: Fannie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaston-Johansson
authors.forename: Evelyn M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lachica
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fall-Dickson
authors.forename: M John
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*