Caregiver Burden of Palliative Cancer Patients: A Cross-Cultural Perspective.

Abstract

Although the burden of caregiving is universal among people caring for advanced cancer patients, the perception of burden and the impact on individuals vary according to the society in which patients and caregivers are located. The characteristics of caregivers and the dimensions of burden they experience are influenced by the structure of each society. Therefore, the burden of caregivers is shaped by the situation in each country and its cultural perspective. Reducing the burden on caregivers and supporting individuals can make the patients they care for feel better. For this reason, caregivers should receive social, psychological, and economic support from society, the government, and their families, and efforts should be made to reduce the burden of caregiver assistance. To protect and improve the health of caregivers, health personnel should provide training on effective caregiving methods based on the needs of caregivers. It is especially important to support the patient's family members when the patient is in the terminal phase and to prepare them for the grieving process. The aim of this study is to better understand the level of caregiver burden and to guide researchers by providing a cross-cultural perspective.