title: Work productivity and health of informal caregivers of persons with advanced cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe health promotion behaviors and work productivity loss in informal caregivers of individuals with advanced stage cancer. Using a cross-sectional, correlational design, 70 caregivers completed measures of health behaviors, mood, social support, and burden. Absenteeism and presenteeism were evaluated in employed caregivers (n = 40). Caregivers reported low levels of physical activity. The mean percentage of work productivity loss due to caregiving was 22.9%. Greater work productivity loss was associated with greater number of caregiving hours, higher cancer stage, married status, and greater anxiety, depression, and burden related to financial problems, disrupted schedule, and health. Nurses should assess caregivers and provide health promotion interventions, which may ultimately reduce the economic impact of caregiving.
authors.affiliation: Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4904, USA.
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mazanec
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Sara L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lipson
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology