Family relationships and caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer
Abstract Background Family relationships play a crucial role in the care and support of patients with terminal cancer, impacting their physical and emotional well-being. This study investigates whether family relationships are associated with caregiver responses in end-of-life (EOL) care for patient...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Palliative Care |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01855-7 |
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| author | Boram Kim In Cheol Hwang Hong Yup Ahn Jae-woo Lee |
| author_facet | Boram Kim In Cheol Hwang Hong Yup Ahn Jae-woo Lee |
| author_sort | Boram Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Family relationships play a crucial role in the care and support of patients with terminal cancer, impacting their physical and emotional well-being. This study investigates whether family relationships are associated with caregiver responses in end-of-life (EOL) care for patients with terminal cancer. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 172 family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer, collected from nine hospice and palliative care centers in South Korea between June 2021 and May 2023. Standardized tools, including the Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) and the Korean Family Relationship Assessment Scale (FRAS), assessed caregiver burden and family relationships. Analyses were adjusted for variables such as age, gender, marital status, employment status, presence of a spouse, religion, caregiving environment, social support, psychological resilience, and emotional distress. Multivariate regression and subgroup analyses were performed to examine these associations. Results The overall FRAS score was significantly correlated with all five domains of caregiver burden, adjusting for various factors (p < 0.01). The financial problems domain of the CRA was positively correlated with family conflict (p < 0.01); however, no correlation was observed with family support and togetherness. In the self-esteem domain of the CRA, positive correlations were observed among caregivers who were older adults, females, spouses, those with lower education levels, married, and those experiencing high emotional distress (p < 0.01). Subgroup analyses revealed variations based on age, gender, caregiver relationship, social support level, resilience, and emotional distress. Conclusions These findings emphasize the integral role of family relationships in shaping caregiver experiences for patients with terminal cancer during EOL care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e0769773cc3b496398a91e3e2d8967d3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-684X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Palliative Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-e0769773cc3b496398a91e3e2d8967d32025-08-20T04:02:49ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2025-07-012411910.1186/s12904-025-01855-7Family relationships and caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with terminal cancerBoram Kim0In Cheol Hwang1Hong Yup Ahn2Jae-woo Lee3Department of Hospice and Palliative Service, National Cancer CenterDepartment of Family Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of MedicineDepartment of Statistics, Dongguk UniversityDepartment of Family Medicine, Chungbuk National University HospitalAbstract Background Family relationships play a crucial role in the care and support of patients with terminal cancer, impacting their physical and emotional well-being. This study investigates whether family relationships are associated with caregiver responses in end-of-life (EOL) care for patients with terminal cancer. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 172 family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer, collected from nine hospice and palliative care centers in South Korea between June 2021 and May 2023. Standardized tools, including the Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) and the Korean Family Relationship Assessment Scale (FRAS), assessed caregiver burden and family relationships. Analyses were adjusted for variables such as age, gender, marital status, employment status, presence of a spouse, religion, caregiving environment, social support, psychological resilience, and emotional distress. Multivariate regression and subgroup analyses were performed to examine these associations. Results The overall FRAS score was significantly correlated with all five domains of caregiver burden, adjusting for various factors (p < 0.01). The financial problems domain of the CRA was positively correlated with family conflict (p < 0.01); however, no correlation was observed with family support and togetherness. In the self-esteem domain of the CRA, positive correlations were observed among caregivers who were older adults, females, spouses, those with lower education levels, married, and those experiencing high emotional distress (p < 0.01). Subgroup analyses revealed variations based on age, gender, caregiver relationship, social support level, resilience, and emotional distress. Conclusions These findings emphasize the integral role of family relationships in shaping caregiver experiences for patients with terminal cancer during EOL care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01855-7Terminal cancer patientsEnd-of-lifeHospiceFamily relationshipCaregiver burden |
| spellingShingle | Boram Kim In Cheol Hwang Hong Yup Ahn Jae-woo Lee Family relationships and caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer BMC Palliative Care Terminal cancer patients End-of-life Hospice Family relationship Caregiver burden |
| title | Family relationships and caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer |
| title_full | Family relationships and caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer |
| title_fullStr | Family relationships and caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Family relationships and caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer |
| title_short | Family relationships and caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer |
| title_sort | family relationships and caregiver burden among family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer |
| topic | Terminal cancer patients End-of-life Hospice Family relationship Caregiver burden |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01855-7 |
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