Insomnia Burden among Informal Caregivers of Hospitalized Lung Cancer Patients and Its Influencing Factors

Objective This study aimed to reveal the insomnia burden and relevant influencing factors among informal caregivers(ICs)of hospitalized patients with lung cancer.Methods A cross-sectional study on ICs of hospitalized patients with lung cancer was conducted from December 31,2020 to December 31,2021.ICs’burden was assessed using the Caregiver Reaction Assessment(CRA),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),and Insomnia Severity Index(ISI).Linear and logistic regression models were used to identify the influencing factors.Results Among 289 ICs of hospitalized patients with lung cancer,83(28.72%),53(18.34%),and 14(4.84%)ICs experienced mild,moderate,and severe insomnia,respectively.The scores concerning self-esteem,lack of family support,financial problems,disturbed schedule,and health problems were 4.32±0.53,2.24±0.79,2.84±1.14,3.63±0.77,and 2.44±0.95,respectively.ICs with higher Activities of Daily Living Scale(ADLS)scores were associated with a lower risk of insomnia,with an odd ratio(OR)and 95%confidence interval(CI)of 0.940(0.898–0.983).Among the ICs,female gender(OR=2.597),alcohol consumption(OR=3.745),underlying medical conditions(OR=11.765),long-term caregiving experience(OR=37.037),and higher monthly expenses(OR=5.714)were associated with a high risk of insomnia.Conclusion Of the hospitalized patients with lung cancer,51.9%experienced insomnia.Patients’ADL,ICs gender,alcohol consumption,underlying medical conditions,caregiving duration,and monthly expenses were influencing factors.Therefore,prompt screening and early intervention for ICs of patients with lung cancer is necessary.

Burden of Care as Perceived by Informal Caregivers of the Patients Receiving Chemotherapy in Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi, Pakistan

Background: Almost 32.5 million people are diagnosed with cancer annually. The huge number of cancer patients with deteriorating health renders a far greater number of informal caregivers bearing the burden of care in different forms and magnitude. The main purpose of the study was to explore the types of burden perceived by the informal caregivers and the factors associated with the caregiving burden. Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted to answer the research questions from April to May 2016. Around 200 informal caregivers were recruited from one of the tertiary hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. The modified ZBIS was used to collect data which was analyzed by using Chi-square test to find the associations between the demographic characteristics of informal caregivers and the perceived burden of care. Results: Findings of the study identified the employment status (P ≤ 0.020) and the religion of the informal caregivers (P ≤ 0.027) as significant, demographic variables. The functional level of care receivers was also found to be significant (P ≤ 0.002). The study also recognized four forms of burdens, with significant mean values, including financial (2.85), psychological (2.50), social (2.58), and physical (2.44). Most of the participants reported experiencing a moderate magnitude of burden, ranging from 40 - 60, on the scale of 0 - 80. Conclusion: The study highlighted four different forms of burdens, that is, financial, psychological, social, and physical, along with their associated demographic factors. Health care agencies and public health personnel should work with informal caregivers to reduce burden of care.

Being a Next of Kin—Experiences of Burden and Quality of Life

Aim and Objectives: To increase the understanding of next of kin’s life situation in the context of supporting persons who are long term ill, disabled and/or older by describing their experienced burden and quality of life and also the relationship between QoL, burden and socioeconomic variables. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and correlative design. Eighty-four next of kin answered two questionnaires: the Caregiver Burden Scale and the Subjective Quality of Life. Results: Next of kin experienced a high burden in their life situation although they, at the same time, experienced a good quality of life. In the results gender differences were found. Females next of kin to a higher extent were disappointed, more emotionally involved, and they also estimated their economic situation as more unsatisfactory than the males next of kin. Conclusion: Healthcare personnel meet next of kin, persons in need of care, within all healthcare and social care in society. Therefore it is important to have a general knowledge and ability to understand the next of kin’s life situation, thus making it possible to focus the nursing interventions on individual support regardless of the care receiver’s diagnosis.

Informal Caregiving and Disaster Risk Reduction:A Scoping Review

Informal caregivers are a population currently in the shadows of disaster risk reduction(DRR),and yet essential to the provision of healthcare services.This scoping review explored the literature to understand issues related to informal caregiving and promising practices to support resilience for disasters.Following guidelines for scoping review as outlined by Tricco et al.(2016),relevant publications were identified from five major databases—Medline,Embase,PubMed,Web of Science,and Scopus.Relevant studies referenced informal caregiving and disasters for a variety of population groups including children,people with disabilities or chronic illnesses,and older adults.Studies were excluded if they discussed formal caregiving services(for example,nursing),lacked relevance to disasters,or had insufficient discussion of informal caregiving.Overall,21 articles met the inclusion criteria and were fully analyzed.Five themes were identified:(1)the need for education and training in DRR;(2)stressors around medication and supply issues;(3)factors affecting the decision-making process in a disaster;(4)barriers leading to disaster-related problems;and(5)factors promoting resilience.Recommended areas of strategic action and knowledge gaps are discussed.Many informal caregivers do not feel adequately prepared for disasters.Given the important role of informal caregivers in healthcare provision,preparedness strategies are essential to support community resilience for those requiring personal care support.By understanding and mobilizing assets to support the resilience of informal caregivers,we also support the resilience of the greater healthcare system and the community,in disaster contexts.