title: Quality of life and burden in family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer in active treatment settings and hospice care: A comparative study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate caregiver burden and quality of life (QoL) in active treatment settings and hospice care for 76 family caregivers of advanced cancer patients, using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form and the Caregiver Burden Inventory. Compared to the active group, the hospice group reported significantly lower QoL scores in mental component summary score and higher scores in general health subscale and in physical component summary score. Future research needs to further investigate the complexities of caregivers' needs, especially in the emotional and mental domains, and offer effective, clinically proven interventions.
authors.affiliation: a Palliative Care Unit , San Carlo Hospital , Potenza , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spatuzzi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurology , INRCA-IRCCS National Institute of Science and Health on Aging , Ancona , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Velia
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Giulietti
authors.affiliation: a Palliative Care Unit , San Carlo Hospital , Potenza , Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricciuti
authors.affiliation: c Palliative Care Center , "Casa di Betania" Hospice , Tricase , Lecce , Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Merico
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurology , INRCA-IRCCS National Institute of Science and Health on Aging , Ancona , Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meloni
authors.affiliation: d Biostatistical Center , INRCA-IRCCS National Institute of Science and Health on Aging , Ancona , Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fabbietti
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurology , INRCA-IRCCS National Institute of Science and Health on Aging , Ancona , Italy.
authors.forename: Marica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ottaviani
authors.affiliation: e Department of Psychology , University la Sapienza , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Violani
authors.affiliation: f Experimental Unit of Psycho-oncology , National Research Centre "Giovanni Paolo II," , Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cormio
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurology , INRCA-IRCCS National Institute of Science and Health on Aging , Ancona , Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vespa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult