Caring ability of family caregivers of patients on cancer treatment: associated factors

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the caring ability of family caregivers of patients on cancer treatment with the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, as well as the sociodemographic characteristics of the caregivers and of the care provided. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 132 family caregivers of patients on cancer treatment whose data were collected through the Brazilian version of the Caring Ability Inventory and questionnaires characterizing patients, caregivers and the care provided. Student’s t, Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used at the significance level ≤5%. RESULTS: Patients’ age was significantly associated with overall caring ability (p = 0.002) and the caregiver’s dimensions courage (p = 0.006) and patience (p = 0.009). Caregivers’ education was associated with overall caring ability (p = 0.028) and the dimensions courage (p = 0.008) and patience (p = 0.045). Marital status was associated with the overall caring ability (p = 0.020); and the patience dimension (p = 0.045) and the time providing care with the patience dimension (p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Caregivers of elderly patients who have higher schooling and do not have a partner demonstrate greater caring ability.