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Support-seeking by cancer caregivers living in rural Australia
Johnston, Elizabeth A. Goodwin, Belinda C. Myers, Larry March, Sonja Aitken, Joanne F. Chambers, Suzanne K. Dunn, Jeff
Johnston, Elizabeth A.
Goodwin, Belinda C.
Myers, Larry
March, Sonja
Aitken, Joanne F.
Chambers, Suzanne K.
Dunn, Jeff
Abstract
Objective
Rural cancer caregivers report poor wellbeing and high unmet needs for support. This study investigates sources of support sought by cancer caregivers living in rural Australia, and factors associated with support‐seeking.
Methods
Informal caregivers of people with cancer completed a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, caregiver factors and support‐seeking. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses and logistic regression were used to identify common sources of support and factors associated with support‐seeking. Alluvial and radar plots were used to identify and describe support‐seeking profiles.
Findings
Of 244 rural caregivers, 64% reported seeking support for themselves, 72% for the cancer patient, and 22% did not seek any support. The most common sources of support were general practitioners and online. Higher caregiver burden, higher income, caring for someone with anxiety/depression or caring for someone who has difficulty completing their usual activities were associated with seeking support from a greater number of sources. The ‘No support‐seekers’ profile had the highest proportions of caregivers who were male, caring for someone <12 months post‐diagnosis and lower income earners.
Conclusions
Many rural caregivers seek support for themselves and the cancer patient, commonly from medical and online sources.
Implications for public health
Further work may be needed to reduce caregiver burden and support caregivers who are male, caring for someone recently diagnosed, and those with lower incomes.
Keywords
caregivers, oncology, regional and remote, rural, supportive care
Date
2022
Type
Journal article
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Book
Volume
46
Issue
6
Page Range
850-857
Article Number
ACU Department
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File Access
Open