Health behaviors of caregivers of childhood cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

BMC Cancer

Jung Eun Yoo¹  In Young Cho²  Dong Wook Shin³  Yun-Mi Song³  Hee Jo Baek⁴  Nack-Gyun Chung⁵  Ji Won Lee⁶  Ki Woong Sung⁶ 

[1] Department of Family Medicine, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital;Department of Family Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine;Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine;Department of Pediatrics, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School;Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea;Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine;

关键词: Cancer survivors;    Child;    Caregivers;    Health behavior;    Alcohol drinking;    Exercise;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12885-020-06765-w

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Caregiving for childhood cancer survivors may be burdensome for caregivers and affect their physical health and health behaviors. However, studies examining health behaviors in caregivers of childhood cancer survivors are scarce. This study aimed to examine health behaviors of caregivers of childhood cancer survivors by comparing them with those of the general population, and analyze associated factors. Methods This study included 326 caregivers of childhood cancer survivors recruited from 3 major hospitals in South Korea and 1304 controls from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey matched for age, sex, and education level. We compared health behaviors between the two groups by using conditional logistic regression analyses, and investigated factors associated with unhealthy behaviors in caregivers by using multiple logistic regression analyses. Results Caregivers were less likely to be physically inactive (aOR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.92) compared to controls, and this was more evident in women (aOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.94). However, caregivers were more likely to be binge drinkers (aOR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.73, 2.97), especially if they were men (aOR: 13.59, 95% CI: 8.09, 22.82). Factors associated with unhealthy behaviors in caregivers differed by the type of behavior. Current smoking risk was lower in female caregivers and in those with more comorbidities. Increasing age, female sex, higher education level, and lower household income were associated with lower risk of binge drinking. Higher household income and anxiety were associated with lower risk of physical inactivity, while depression was associated with higher risk of physical inactivity. Conclusions Caregivers of childhood cancer survivors were more likely to engage in binge drinking, but less likely to be physically inactive. Strategies to promote adherence to desirable health behaviors in caregivers are needed with consideration of their socioeconomic and clinical factors, such as number of comorbidities.

【 授权许可】

Unknown