Mediating effect of social support between caregiver burden and quality of life among family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care units

• Published in: European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2024-02, Vol.68, p.102509-102509, Article 102509
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yun, Li, Juejin, Zhang, Yalin, Chen, Chongcheng, Guan, Chang, Zhou, Lin, Zhang, Shu, Chen, Xiaoli, Hu, Xiaolin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Caregiver burden; China; Family; Neoplasms; Palliative care; Quality of life; Social support
• ISSN: 1462-3889; 1532-2122
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102509

To identify factors influencing the quality of life of family caregivers with terminal cancer in Chinese palliative wards and to test whether social support mediates the relationship between caregiver burden and caregiver quality of life. A cross-sectional study design was used. Sociodemographic data were collected and the Quality of Life Scale, the Caregiver Burden Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale were administered to Chinese family caregivers from December 2021 to December 2022. The factors influencing quality of life and caregiver burden were examined using the Mann‒Whitney U test and the Kruskal‒Wallis H test. The mediating role of social support was assessed using the bootstrap method. Family caregivers' quality of life in Chinese terminal cancer palliative units was related to caregivers' daily care time, the caregiver-patient relationship, and patient age. Caregiver quality of life was negatively associated with caregiver burden and positively associated with social support. In addition, social support mediated the relationship between caregiver burden and caregiver quality of life. Social support mediated the impact of caregiver burden on caregiver quality of life. Family, society, and palliative care institutions should be integrated to take actions to reduce family caregiver burden, increase social support, and transfer the positive aspects of specific cultural contexts to the culture of palliative care in general to collaboratively cope with various problems related to end-stage cancer. •This study addresses a research gap by investigating the relationship between social support, caregiver burden, and quality of life among family caregivers in of cancer patients Chinese palliative care units, contributing to the understanding of their experiences and needs in a specific cultural and clinical setting.•Caregivers' daily care time, the caregiver-patient relationship, and patient age significantly influence the quality of life of family caregivers.•This study highlights the effectiveness of culturally specific social support in improving the quality of life for family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer, advocating for its expansion within Chinese cultural communities and beyond.