title: Burdens among caregivers of older adults with advanced cancer and risk factors.
abstract: Family caregivers of older cancer patients face many challenges in managing illness. The burden impacts physical, emotional, spiritual, and social health. The objective of this study was to identify burden among caregivers of older patients with advanced cancer, and associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers of older cancer patients were randomly interviewed from March-September 2012. Information on baseline characteristics and caregiver burden using the Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI) was collected. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze baseline data, with univariate and multiple linear regression to analyze factors associated with higher burden.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifty participants were assessed. The mean ZBI was 19.2 ± 12.9 (95%CI, 17.1, 21.2). Two-thirds of caregivers reported no burden (63%) and the main impact variable on ZBI was guilt. High burdens were associated with single caregiver, relationship with the patient as siblings, presence of migraines, and cancer types of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregiver burden of Thai cancer patients is low. This unexpected small number could be the result of the socio-cultural viewpoint. Assessment of caregivers and focusing on related factors should be incorporated into treatment plans.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand E-mail : jarich@kku.ac.th.
authors.forename: Jarin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chindaprasirt
authors.forename: Panita
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limpawattana
authors.forename: Pornvaree
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pakkaratho
authors.forename: Kosin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wirasorn
authors.forename: Aumkhae
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sookprasert
authors.forename: Kannikar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kongbunkiat
authors.forename: Kittisak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawanyawisuth
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013785:Thailand