Physical, psychosocial, relationship, and economic burden of caring for people with cancer: a review.
The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the issues faced by caregivers of people diagnosed with cancer, with a particular emphasis on the physical, psychosocial, and economic impact of caring. A review of the literature identified cancer as one of the most common health conditions in receipt of informal caregiving, with the majority of caregivers reporting taking on the role of caring because of family responsibility and there being little choice or no one else to provide the care. For some, caregiving can extend for several years and become equivalent to a full-time job, with significant consequent health, psychosocial, and financial burdens. Having a better understanding of the critical and broad roles that caregivers play in the oncology setting and the impact of these on their health and well-being may assist health care professionals in supporting caregivers with these tasks and targeting services and interventions toward those most in need.
Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales; University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia; Flinders University, Daw Park, South Australia, Australia; and Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Afaf
A
Girgis
Sylvie
S
Lambert
Claire
C
Johnson
Amy
A
Waller
David
D
Currow
D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms; D012944:Social Support