Year: 2026 | Month: January | Volume: 16 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 89-100
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260112
Evaluation of the Level of Burden on Caregivers of Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Study
Dr. Anjali Mangesh Joshi1, Dr. Suchitra Ajay Mehta1, Ms. Santoshi Raju Wadhwani1
1Department of Psycho-oncology, HCG Cancer Center, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Anjali Mangesh Joshi
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Radiotherapy, one of the key components of cancer care, creates significant physical, emotional, and logistical burdens on patients and caregivers. The objective of this study was to assess the level of caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy at a tertiary care cancer center in central India and to determine the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with caregiver burden.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 217 informal caregivers of cancer patients who had undergone at least 15 fractions of radiotherapy were surveyed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Statistical analysis was conducted using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by post hoc analysis using the Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner (DSCF) test.
Results: Among 217 caregivers surveyed, 32.2% experienced severe burden, 36.8% experienced moderate-to-severe burden, 24.4% reported mild-to-moderate burden, and 6.4% felt mild burden. Significant correlations were found between caregiver burden and gender (p<0.001), education level (p<0.001), marital status (p<0.001), socioeconomic status (p=0.03), social and family support (p<0.001), and type of cancer (p<0.001). There were no correlations with caregiver age, occupation, relationship with the patient, or clinical variables such as stage of disease or ongoing concurrent treatment.
Conclusion: Findings highlight high levels of burden in caregivers of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Married women,those with lower education, upper middle class, poor social and family support, and caregivers of head and neck cancer patients had more caregiver burden. Counselling and supportive care interventions can mitigate caregiver burden and improve patient care.
Key words: Caregiver burden; cancer; radiotherapy .