Objectives：Although the number of terminal cancer patients increases year by year, few researchers have discussed caregivers’ burden in dealing with terminal cancer patients in palliative hospitals. Much research has discussed the subjective of caregiving subjective burden, but hasn’t measured the impact of caregiving, the levels of caregiving mastery, and satisfaction during caregiving. The purpose of this study was to measure caregiving appraisal and to find important factors in those who cared for terminal cancer patients in palliative hospitals.
Methods：A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data by face to face interview from a convenience sampling of 72 caregivers who cared for terminal cancer patients in palliative hospitals. Questionnaires was interpreted from Lawton, published in 1989. The data was gathered from November 2007 to June 2008. The statistical analysis methods included descriptive statistics, independent t test, one way ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression analysis.
Results：Caregivers who cared for terminal cancer patients were agreeable to “caregiving satisfaction” and “caregiving mastery” than “subjective caregiving burden” and “impact of caregiving” for each domain of caregiving appraisal. The results found that it was higher scroes in positive caregiving experiences than in negative caregiving experiences for caregiving appraisal of caregivers. A stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that predict variables included fatigue, diarrhea, edema, and Karnofsky Performance Scale(KPS) in patient’s characteristic aspect. In caregiver’s characteristic predict variables included education, relationship with patient, changing occupation, and other diseases.
Conclusions：The findings of this study provide clinical nurses with an evidence basis while helping primary caregivers of cancer patients to make referrals of Taiwan’s palliative care models in the future. The results help multidisciplinary teams promote and maintain caregivers’ quality of life.
