Burden of care and its relationship with sleep quality of cancer patients’ caregivers: A descriptive-correlational study

Background: Nowadays, transferring care plans to the home, shifts the burden of care from medical staff to informal care providers that include family members, spouses, friends, or relatives. Aims: This study aimed to assess the burden of care and its relationship with the sleep quality of cancer patients' caregivers. Design: A descriptive-correlational study. Methods: This study was conducted in a referral center for cancer in Zanjan province, northwest of Iran. 135 caregivers of cancer patients participated. The data were collected using a demographic characteristics questionnaire, Novak and Guest's caregiver burden inventory, and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Results: The mean (±SD) burden of care and sleep quality of the participants was 45.22 (±17.75) and 8.88 (±4.21), respectively. A significant positive relationship between the burden of care and quality of sleep scores was detected. Conclusions: Cancer patients' caregivers endure a remarkable burden of care and their quality of sleep is undesirable. Results indicated that an increase in the burden of care reduces the caregivers' quality of sleep. Reducing the burden of care is an effective strategy for improving the caregivers' quality of sleep