Symptom Experience of Patients with Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancers and Burden of Family Care Givers

Abstract Background: Hepatobiliary cancers, frequently with a gloomy prognosis also have a high symptom experience. With the primary focus on the patient, the needs of the family care givers are often overlooked, leading to a significant care-giving burden. The influence of symptom experience of patients among other factors on burden of caregivers is not often investigated. Methods: A correlational study to assess the relationship between symptom experience of patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers and burden of family care-givers was conducted in a tertiary hospital in South India. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of hepatobiliary cancers, above 18 yrs of age, with no psychiatric illness and their family care givers who lived with the patient and cared for them were included. An informed written consent was obtained and ninety nine dyads of patients and their family caregivers were recruited by consecutive sampling. Data were obtained using the Zarit Burden Interview and MSAS questionnaire which were self-administered. Results: Majority of the patients had a low symptom experience. A major proportion of the family caregivers experienced minimal to mild burden. There was a significant positive correlation between symptom experience of patients and burden of care-givers. Burden of caregivers was also significantly associated with patients? age, gender, presence of metastatic disease, intent of treatment, time since diagnosis and educational status of the family caregivers. Conclusion: Family caregivers of patients with hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers experience considerable burden which is closely related to the symptom experience of the patients and metastatic disease. This necessitates Nurses to recognize burden in family care givers along with symptoms in patients.