Caregiver burden in caregivers of patients referred for Specialist Palliative Care at a tertiary care cancer center

Cancer affects not only the patient but also the family members who provide day-to-day care. Caregivers of patients with advanced cancer often experience significant physical, emotional, social, and financial stress while supporting patients through treatment, symptom control, and frequent hospital visits. Patients referred for specialist palliative care usually have complex medical and supportive care needs, which can increase the responsibilities and strain experienced by their caregivers. The primary objective of this study is to assess the level of caregiver burden among caregivers of patients referred for specialist palliative care at a tertiary care cancer center. Secondary objectives include identifying demographic and clinical factors associated with increased caregiver burden.

This study will be conducted as an observational cross-sectional study in the Department of Palliative Medicine at a tertiary care cancer center. Adult caregivers (more than 18 years of age) who are identified as the primary caregiver of a patient with cancer referred for specialist palliative care, and who are willing to provide written informed consent, will be included in the study. Caregivers who are unable to understand or complete the questionnaire, or who decline participation, will be excluded. Data will be collected using validated caregiver burden assessment tools along with a structured questionnaire to record caregiver demographics and relevant patient characteristics.

The collected data will be analyzed to determine the prevalence and severity of caregiver burden and to explore factors that may influence caregiver stress. The findings of this study are expected to provide important insights into the challenges faced by caregivers in the palliative care setting. This may help identify caregivers at higher risk of stress and inform the development of supportive interventions and counseling services aimed at improving caregiver well-being and enhancing the overall quality of palliative care.