Influences of Psychological Well-being, Quality of Caregiver-patient Relationship, and Family Support on the Health of Family Caregivers for Cancer Patients in Taiwan

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of psychological well-being, quality of caregiver-patient relationship, and family support on the health of family caregivers for cancer patients in a Taiwanese hospital.

Methods

A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. A sample of 91 family caregivers of hospitalized cancer patients completed the Caregiver Reaction Assessment and Psychological Well-Being Scale. Pearson's product moment correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the data.

Results

The psychological well-being and the quality of the caregiver-patient relationship of family caregivers were found to be significantly positively correlated with caregivers' health. The lack of family support was found to be significantly negatively correlated with caregivers' health. Psychological well-being, quality of caregiver-patient relationship, and family support accounted for 59% of the variance in caregivers' health.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that nurses, while providing care in the hospital and upon discharge need to be aware of the psychological well-being, quality of caregiver-patient relationship, and family support of a family caregiver, as these factors all have an impact on a family caregiver' health.

Key Words:  family caregiver , health status , interpersonal relations , mental health , social support

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