Burden, Coping Ability and Family Functioning of Caregivers and Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

Caregivers experience high level of burden, strain and distress while caring for an ill family member. Many patients diagnosed with cancer will eventually require support from a family caregiver. Caregivers have their own emotional responses to patients' diagnoses and prognoses. The purpose of the study is to evaluate and correlate perceived burden, coping ability and family functioning of caregivers and quality of life of cancer patients. Aim: The objectives of the study are: 1. To assess the perceived burden and coping ability and family functioning of caregivers and quality of life of cancer patients. 2. To correlate the perceived burden, coping ability, family functioning of caregivers and quality of life of cancer patients. Methods: A Quantitative research approach and descriptive research design was employed to carry out the study on 30 caregivers and 30 cancer patients from Mohan Dai Oswal Hospital, Ludhiana. The data was collected by using selfstructured socio-demographic sheet and standardized tools on perceived burden, coping ability, family functioning and quality of life. Results: Mean burden score was 66.53, Mean coping score was 50.07, Mean family functioning score was 2.64 and Functional QOL score was 21.70, Mean Symptom QOL score was 83.93, Mean Global health status QOL score was 32.22. Burden score of caregivers was negatively correlated with coping score of caregivers, functional QOL score of cancer patients, Global health status score of cancer patients and positively correlated with family functioning score of caregivers, symptom QOL score of cancer patients. Conclusion: The study concluded that majority of caregivers had severe burden, maladaptive coping, unhealthy family functioning and majority of cancer patients had poor quality of life