Qualidade de vida dos cuidadores principais de crianças e adolescentes com câncer

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood and adolescent cancer is considered a chronic disease and is a public health problem, being the main cause of death from disease in childhood (except for the neonatal period) and adolescence. With the diagnosis, parents or close relatives commonly assume the responsibility of primary caregiver and play a fundamental role in maintaining the quality and proper functioning of the family structure throughout the treatment process. Psychoemotional repercussions are observed in these caregivers. Aim: To assess the quality of life of the main caregivers of children and teenagers with cancer. Method: This is a quantitative, analytical and cross-sectional study. A total of 115 primary caregivers of children and adolescents with cancer between May 2018 and March 2021 were interviewed. Two instruments were used, a questionnaire to obtain social, demographic, and emotional data of the caregiver and the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) quality of life scale. Results: The 115 participants were predominantly mothers (90.4%), living with a partner (a) (75.7%), low income (%). The majority (74.8%) had no history of mental disorder, but 83.3% suffered interference in life with the patient's illness. The mean quality of life (QOL) value was unsatisfactory (60.5 points). The environment domain had the lowest mean score (53.2). Type of local cancer of the interview, religion, income, were not associated with Qol. Conclusion: The data analyzed in this study showed reduced QoL of the caregivers, making it paramount to look more carefully at these people that are in need of actions that promote good emotional health, as their well-being directly interferes with the health of the patient.