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Examining the role of subjective and objective burden in carer health-related quality of life: the case of colorectal cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

Our aim was to investigate associations between the subjective burden of care and health-related quality of life (both physical and mental) within colorectal cancer patient carers in Ireland, with supplementary analysis of carer objective factors.

Methods

Two hundred twenty-eight colorectal cancer informal carers were sent a postal questionnaire between August 2010 and March 2011 which included the Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) and the SF-12v2. Multiple regression analysis assessed whether five CRA domains (family support, finances, schedule, health and esteem) predicted carer mental or physical health. Between-group comparisons investigated differences in these domains across objective factors.

Results

One hundred fifty-three carers (82 % female) completed the questionnaire (response rate = 68 %). Carers’ mean physical component summary (PCS) was 48.56 (SD = 10.38) and mean mental component summary (MCS) was 49.22 (SD = 9.7). Five CRA factors explained 30 % of variance in the PCS score and 28 % of variance in the MCS score. Health burden (β = −.76, p < .001) and schedule burden (β = .28, p = .01) were significant predictors of PCS. MCS was significantly predicated by financial burden (β = −.24, p = .01) and esteem (β = −.18, p = .03). Younger carers, spouses, those with a comorbid condition and those with no income change had significantly lower PCS. There were no statistically significant group differences for carer mental health.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate the need to recognise the distinctive aspects of the impact of caring (i.e., physical and mental) on carers and that different domains of subjective carer burden and objective factors impact differently on each of these. This has important implications for those delivering support to carers over the course of the survivorship continuum.

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Acknowledgments

Data collection was funded by the Health Research Board (SA/2004/1). We are grateful to the carers and colorectal cancer survivors who took part in the surveys, the clinicians and nurses who supported the fieldwork and Alan O’Ceilleachair who undertook the patient survey. We also thank the clerical support team at the National Cancer Registry who aided with survey administration and data input.

Conflicts of interest

Paul Hanly, Rebecca Maguire, Philip Hyland and Linda Sharp declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National College of Ireland, Mayor Street, Dublin 1, Ireland

    Paul Hanly, Rebecca Maguire & Philip Hyland

  2. National Cancer Registry Ireland, Cork Airport Business Park, Kinsale Road, Cork, Ireland

    Linda Sharp

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  1. Paul Hanly
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  2. Rebecca Maguire
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  3. Philip Hyland
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  4. Linda Sharp
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Correspondence to Paul Hanly.

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Hanly, P., Maguire, R., Hyland, P. et al. Examining the role of subjective and objective burden in carer health-related quality of life: the case of colorectal cancer. Support Care Cancer 23, 1941–1949 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2551-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2551-2

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