THE STRESS AMONG CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH CHEMOTHERAPY-TREATED CANCER IN NORTHEAST, THAILAND:A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Keywords:
Caregivers, Cancer, Cross-sectional study, Mental health, Risk factors, StressAbstract
This study aimed to determine the proportion of caregivers of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy who suffer from stress and the stress-related factors. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried in caregivers of cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University (N=119). Self-administered questionnaires, including the Caregiver Strain Index and stress-related factors, were used. Stress-associated factors were performed by the multiple logistic regression. The prevalence of stress among caregivers was 37.8%. The factors that significantly increased risks of stress were work-related problems (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 3.59 (95% CI: 1.23-10.53)) and self-payment (AOR: 12.47 (95% CI: 1.05-148.20)). The protective factor was sufficient income (AOR: 0.30 (95% CI: 0.11-0.83)). In conclusion, approximately a third of caregivers of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy suffer from stress, then they should be considered a risk group, especially when they have those risk factors. So that they may need a mental health counseling or services to relieve their stress while staying in the hospital.
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