Self-Perceived Burden of Patients with Terminal Cancer Receiving Care from Family Members

Abstract

The objective of this study was to clarify the details of Self-Perceived Burden (SPB), defined as the feeling experienced by patients who believe they are a burden on those caring for them, in cases of patients with terminal cancer and their family caregivers. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 inpatients with terminal cancer in palliative care units who had required home care by their family members prior to hospitalization. The results were examined by content analysis. The SPB of the patients with terminal cancer consisted of "feeling sorry for burdening caregivers unilaterally and not being able to return the favor", "feeling sorry for letting caregivers support their activities or share their responsibilities", "feeling sorry for disrupting family life", "feeling sorry for increasingly burdening caregivers as the cancer progresses and the patient prepares for death" , "concern about exhausting caregivers" and "desire to fulfill family responsibilities at the end of life". The results of this study should deepen the understanding of SPB from the perspective of patients with terminal cancer and support those who provide their care.