A Study to Assess the Caregiver Burden of the Caregivers of PostOperative Patients with Oral Cancer in B.R.A Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is a leading cause of death in both developed and underdeveloped countries. The Indian subcontinent accounts for one-third of the world burden of head-and-neck cancer. Caregivers of patients with oral cavity cancer experience heavy burden during and post-treatment period, which, in turn, may affect the caregiver’s ability.

Aim: This study aims to assess the caregiver burden (CB) of the caregivers of post-operative oral cancer patients.

Methodology: The study was conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi. The data were collected by convenience sampling from 50 caregivers of the post-operative patients with oral cancer during June 2017 to December 2017. Self-developed CB assessment questionnaire was used to assess the perceived level of the CB during hospital stay and at 1 month follow-up. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee.

Results: Half of the caregivers were male and half were female. Majority of the caregivers always perceived physical problem (70%, 55.8%), emotional problem (60%, 52.9%), logistical problem (64%, 55.88%), inadequate knowledge and skill (66%, 64.7%), and socioeconomic problem (56%, 73.5%) during hospital stay and 1 month follow-up, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the overall CB at 1 month follow-up (17.16 ± 8.19 and 14.96 ± 9.87) (P = 0.04).

Conclusions: Reduction in CB was noted over the month. Future studies with larger sample over extended period will yield much.