Sociodemographic Factors and Quality of Life (QoL) Among Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The current trend in cancer treatment involves inpatient hospital care and continuity of care in a home care setting; thus, the family caregiver plays an essential role in implementing the patient's treatment plan. The family caregiver provides support such as disease monitoring, management of signs and symptoms, pain management, home medication administration, emotional support, and personal assistance. These complex responsibilities of the family caregiver put them under stress that may affect their quality of life (QoL). The findings of this study revealed that most family caregivers of cancer patients in Saudi Arabia have moderate QoL (55.71 %), while the rest have poor QoL (31.43%) or good QoL (12.86%). Results also showed that burden has low quality of life score and positive adaptation results in a higher quality of life score. Furthermore, male family caregivers have a more impaired quality of life than female family caregivers. Likewise, family caregivers of male patients and patients with metastatic cancer have poorer quality of life. Several studies on the quality of life of family caregivers of cancer patients were conducted worldwide, but there is limited data and scarce literature that evaluates it in Saudi Arabian context. Thus, the results of this study may serve as baseline data in identifying the quality of life of family caregivers of cancer patients in Saudi Arabia and its relationship with sociodemographic factors. Moreover, the result may serve as a source for developing programs to improve the quality of life of family caregivers.