Objective

To determine the informal caregiver factors associated with the burden on caregivers of advanced cancer patients treated at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Bogotá, Colombia.

Materials and method

An analytical observational study was conducted, adopting descriptive statistical methods tailored to the characteristics of the variables. The association between a set of caregiver characteristics and levels of overload measured via the Zarit Burden scale (ZBS) was evaluated using χ2 tests, while Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for assessing continuous variables. Clustering and associations among multiple categorical variables were examined using multiple correspondence analysis.

Results

A total of 476 informal caregivers were included in the study. Associations were found among the three levels of ZBS burden and factors such as provenance (χ2: 6.5; p = 0.03), socioeconomic stratum (χ2: 12.6; p = 0.04), monthly income (p < 0.00), and the total score of the caregiver quality of life scale (CQOLC) (p < 0.00). The variance in caregiver burden for cancer patients was explained by three factorial axes: caregiver's relationship with the patient, caregiver's gender, and their socioeconomic stratum.

Conclusions

Socioeconomic stratum, work activity, educational level and household occupation were the variables included in the three profiles of caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. A profile characterized by being female, primarily engaged in housework or another occupation, lacking a marital relationship with the patient, and having a first-degree filial relationship was linked to the presence of intense overload.

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