Psychological distress, fatigue, burden of care, and quality of life in primary caregivers of patients with breast cancer undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of sociodemographic variables, psychological distress, fatigue, and quality of life (QOL) on burden of care in primary caregivers of patients with breast cancer undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational, predictive.

SETTING: Urban National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the eastern United States.

SAMPLE: Convenience sample of 102 primary caregivers.

METHODS: Participants completed the sociodemographic data form, Piper Fatigue Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, QOL Index, and Measurement of Objective and Subjective Burden Scales prior to BMT during an oncology clinic visit.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Depression, anxiety, fatigue, QOL, and burden of care.

FINDINGS: Mean fatigue scores were low. Primary caregivers experienced moderate state anxiety and low trait anxiety. Some experienced severe depression. The objective burden of care mean score was slightly higher than the subjective mean score. Mean QOL scores were low. All variables were significantly intercorrelated, except subjective burden and temporal and sensory fatigue. Significant correlations were found between age and subjective burden, and income with fatigue temporal subscale, and state and trait anxiety. Family subscale of QOL was a significant predictor of objective burden. Age and trait anxiety were significant predictors of subjective burden.

CONCLUSIONS: Primary caregivers of patients with breast cancer scheduled for BMT experience fatigue, anxiety, burden of care, and low QOL. These caregivers may have tried to meet their needs and the patients' needs simultaneously.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Healthcare providers need to proactively assess primary caregivers of patients for fatigue, psychological distress, burden of care, and decreased QOL and provide nursing interventions tailored to individual needs.