Predictors of caregiver burden across the home‐based palliative care trajectory in Ontario, Canada

Abstract Family caregivers of patients enrolled in home‐based palliative care programmes provide unpaid care and assistance with daily activities to terminally ill family members. Caregivers often experience caregiver burden, which is an important predictor of anxiety and depression that can extend into bereavement. We conducted a longitudinal, prospective cohort study to comprehensively assess modifiable and non‐modifiable patient and caregiver factors that account for caregiver burden over the palliative care trajectory. Caregivers (n = 327) of patients with malignant neoplasm were recruited from two dedicated home‐based palliative care programmes in Southern Ontario, Canada from 1 July 2010 to 31 August 2012. Data were obtained from bi‐weekly telephone interviews with caregivers from study admission until death, and from palliative care programme and home‐care agency databases. Information collected comprised patient and caregiver demographics, utilisation of privately and publicly financed resources, patient clinical status and caregiver burden. The average age of the caregivers was 59.0 years (SD: 13.2), and almost 70% were female. Caregiver burden increased over time in a non‐linear fashion from study admission to patient death. Increased monthly unpaid care‐giving time costs, monthly public personal support worker costs, emergency department visits and low patient functional status were associated with higher caregiver burden. Greater use of hospice ca...
Source: Health and Social Care in the Community - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research