Informal Caregivers Case Study

Abstract: The burden experienced by cancer informal caregivers is enormous. However, little is known about the burden experienced by informal caregivers of cancer patients in Nigeria. Thus the study determined the level of burden among cancer informal caregivers at the Department of Radiotherapy, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. It also compared caregivers’ characteristics against the level of burden of care and investigated caregivers’ feelings of impairment to their health on account of giving care. A questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic/other variables and the Zarit Burden Interview was administered on 135 consecutive caregivers. Almost half (36.3%) of the caregivers had high level of burden. Relationship to

Owing to the chronic nature of cancer, its debilitating features and the fact that there is some improvement in the treatment, the role of family of informal caregivers in the management is on the increase. For example in the United States health care system, caregivers support therapy like multimodality treatment protocols that are administered in outpatient and home settings (Schumacher, Stewart, Archbold et al., 2008). Caregivers provide support that cut across responding to the physical and psychological needs of the cancer sufferers (Honea, Brintnall, Given et al., 2008). Their roles in the management of cancer patients is totally

Eighty six point six percent of caregivers who were above 60 years reported feeling of impaired health sometimes to nearly always while 16.7% of those 20-40 years reported feeling of impairment of health sometimes to nearly always. It is worthy of note that 80% of those who were 18-25 years never had feeling of impaired health on account of caregiving. Those who are above 60 years may be less energetic and may suffer from some illnesses that may come with age. These may add to the burden they experience while being a caregivers of a cancer patient. Older cancer caregivers have been reported to experience the highest level of burden (Given, Wyatt, Given et al.,