Nationwide Survey on Caregiver Burden When Supporting Terminal Cancer Patients with Dementia: Bereaved Family Members' Perspective

Objective: The prevalence of dementia and cancer has increased in recent years. The presence of dementia complicates the care of terminal cancer patients and affects their family caregivers. However, palliative care research seldom focuses on the family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and dementia. This study aimed to evaluate the degree and factors of caregiver burden in cancer patients with dementia who died in hospice palliative care units. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted among bereaved family members of patients with cancer who died in palliative care units. An anonymous self-report questionnaire was sent to bereaved family members, and they were asked if they were aware of the diagnosis of dementia. The short version of the Caregiver Consequence Inventory was used to measure caregiver burden. Results: The analysis included 670 bereaved family members. Of these, 83 (12.4%) were bereaved family members of terminal cancer patients with dementia. The caregiver burden was statistically significantly higher (3.61 +/- 1.58 vs 3.22 +/- 1.47; p < 0.036) among family caregivers of terminal cancer patients with dementia. Longer anti-cancer treatment duration (odd ratio, 4.63), poor mental and physical health of family caregivers (odds ratio, 2.05 and 2.20, respectively), pain (odd ratio, 1.72), and dyspnea (odds ratio, 1.67) were contributing factors for caregiver burden. Conclusions: Family caregivers of terminal cancer patients with dementia require care that considers the characteristics of the two serious diseases. Considering the goal of anti-cancer treatment and symptom relief may be a useful strategy for reducing caregiver burden.