ANXIETY MEDIATES THE IMPACT OF CAREGIVER BURDEN ON QUALITY OF LIFE: IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER CARE POLICIES IN VIETNAM...
Author(s)
Binh Thang Tran, Sr., MPH, DrPH1, Cao Khoa Dang, MPH2, Xuan Trinh Nguyen Thi, PhD3.
1Lecturer, Hue University, Hue, Viet Nam, 2Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Viet Nam, 3Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
1Lecturer, Hue University, Hue, Viet Nam, 2Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Viet Nam, 3Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of anxiety in the relationship between both objective and subjective caregiver burden and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among family caregivers of patients with cancer in Vietnam.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 154 patient-caregiver dyads at the oncology unit of a general teaching hospital in Vietnam. Primary caregivers were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Objective burden was assessed by hours of care per week, subjective burden by the Zarit Burden Interview, HRQoL by the EQ-5D-5L, and anxiety by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale.
RESULTS: Caregivers were also predominantly female [65.6%], with mean age 46.51 years. A significant proportion of caregivers reported high objective burden, with 33.8% dedicating over 60 hours/week to care. While 35.7% experienced subjective burden (mild to severe burden). Mean EQ-5D-5L index was 0.925. Clinically relevant symptoms of mild-to-severe anxiety was present in 44.8% of caregivers. The SEM analysis (χ²(1) = 1.53, p = 0.216; CFI = 0.997; RMSEA = 0.059) revealed that anxiety significantly partially mediated the relationship between caregiver burden and HRQoL. Anxiety accounted for 41.2% of the total effect of objective burden on HRQoL and 22.9% of the total effect of subjective burden on HRQoL.
CONCLUSIONS: Family caregivers of cancer patients in Vietnam face significant psychosocial and HRQoL challenges. These findings highlight the need for health policies in Vietnam to integrate caregiver-focused support, including psychosocial services, into cancer care strategies.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 154 patient-caregiver dyads at the oncology unit of a general teaching hospital in Vietnam. Primary caregivers were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Objective burden was assessed by hours of care per week, subjective burden by the Zarit Burden Interview, HRQoL by the EQ-5D-5L, and anxiety by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale.
RESULTS: Caregivers were also predominantly female [65.6%], with mean age 46.51 years. A significant proportion of caregivers reported high objective burden, with 33.8% dedicating over 60 hours/week to care. While 35.7% experienced subjective burden (mild to severe burden). Mean EQ-5D-5L index was 0.925. Clinically relevant symptoms of mild-to-severe anxiety was present in 44.8% of caregivers. The SEM analysis (χ²(1) = 1.53, p = 0.216; CFI = 0.997; RMSEA = 0.059) revealed that anxiety significantly partially mediated the relationship between caregiver burden and HRQoL. Anxiety accounted for 41.2% of the total effect of objective burden on HRQoL and 22.9% of the total effect of subjective burden on HRQoL.
CONCLUSIONS: Family caregivers of cancer patients in Vietnam face significant psychosocial and HRQoL challenges. These findings highlight the need for health policies in Vietnam to integrate caregiver-focused support, including psychosocial services, into cancer care strategies.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
MSR25
Topic
Methodological & Statistical Research
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Oncology