ABSTRACT

[Abstract] Objective To investigate disease burden and anticipatory grief in primary caregivers of chemotherapy patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to analyze their influencing factors.
Methods A total of 580 patients with NSCLC undergoing chemotherapy in the hospital were enrolled as the research objects between May 2019 and May 2024. The disease burden [Zarit burden interview (ZBI)] and anticipatory grief [anticipatory grief scale (AGS)] in primary caregivers were investigated, and and their influencing factors were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis.
Results The total score of ZBI and AGS in the 580 patients were (32.29±6.44) points and (77.53±9.63) points. Multiple linear regression analysis showed chemotherapy-related complications >2 kinds, spouse as the main caregiver and care time >6 h/d were all independent risk factors of disease burden (P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that Tumor Node Metastasis Staging System(TNM) at stage IV, chemotherapy-related complications >2 kinds, spouse as the main caregiver, care time >6 h/d and low psychological resilience were all independent risk factors of anticipatory grief (P<0.05).
Conclusion   The disease burden and anticipatory grief are high in primary caregivers of chemotherapy patients with NSCLC. Clinically, intervention can be taken based on TNM staging, chemotherapy-related complications, relationship with patients, care time and psychological resilience of primary caregivers to improve nursing quality.

Key words: [Key words] Non-small cell lung cancer; Primary caregiver; Disease burden; Anticipatory grief; Influencing factor