Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the caregiver burden and quality of life (QoL) of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. The relationship between questionnaire results and medical, socioeconomic, disease and treatment related factors of the patients were evaluated. Methods: One hundred twenty one metastatic prostate cancer patients and caregivers were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires and Zarit caregiver burden interviews (ZCBI) were conducted with patients and their caregivers seperately. Patients’ comorbidities, presence of bone and visceral metastases, bone related events, palliative radiotherapy needs, ECOG scores, being under active chemotherapy, socioeconomic factors such as public transportation need, residential factors and caregiver related factors such as comorbidities and kinships were recorded respectively. Results: Patients’ comorbidities, ECOG score, presence and quantity of bone or visceral metastasis, bone related events, receiving palliative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, using public transportation resulted in lower SF-36 and higher ZCBI results (p < 0.001– p = 0.049). Obligation to live in rented houses were correlated with lower SF-36 physical function results (p = 0.043). Condition of the caregiver being from distant relatives resulted in a lower SF-36 score (p = 0.01 - p= 0.043). Moderate to strong negative correlation was detected between ZCBI and all SF-36 results (p < 0.001, r: -646 to -749). In ZCBI, score over 47 resulted with % 69.57 sensitivity and % 65.52 specificity (AUC = 0.671, p = 0.008). Conclusion: QoL was directly related to caregiver burden. Factors such as patient comorbidities, bone metastasis and related situations, ECOG score, presence of visceral metastasis, actively undergoing chemotherapy, low socioeconomic status and poor family support negatively affect both the quality of life of patients and caregiver burden. If a social assistance system can be implemented in which these factors can be monitored systematically, objective and cost-effective benefits related to the care of these patients and the maintenance of their quality of life can be achieved.
Evaluation of caregiver burden and quality of life in metastatic prostate cancer patients; Effects of clinical and socioeconomic factors
