Characteristics | Patients (P, n=131) | Spousal caregivers (SC, n=131) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
 | n (%) | n (%) | ||
Age (mean± SD), years | 56.6±12.1 (ranging from 25 to 79) | 56.0±11.3 (ranging from 29 to 80) | ||
Gender | ||||
 Male | 82 (62.6) | 49 (37.4) |  |  |
 Female | 49 (37.4) | 82 (62.6) |  |  |
Level of education | ||||
 Primary school or less | 64 (48.9) | 67 (51.1) |  |  |
 High school | 49 (37.4) | 49 (37.4) |  |  |
 University or above | 18 (13.7) | 15 (11.5) |  |  |
Working status | ||||
 Working | 75 (57.3) | 69 (52.7) |  |  |
 Not working | 56 (42.7) | 62 (47.3) |  |  |
The average time since diagnosis/the duration in their role as a SC | 13.7±23.0 months (ranging from 1 to 192 months) | <6 months: | 67 (51.2) |  |
6 months ~2 years: | 43 (32.8) | Â | ||
>2 years ~5 years: | 13 (9.9) | Â | ||
>5 years: | 8 (6.1) | Â | ||
Couples were informed about the diseaseb | ||||
 Partly informed | 33 (25.2) | 24 (18.3) | ||
 Well informed | 98 (74.8) | 107 (81.7) | ||
Time spent by SC in caring for patients/day [in hours, n (%)] | Â | <2 hours: | 10 (7.6) | Â |
2~4 hours: | 14 (10.7) | Â | ||
>4~6 hours: | 25 (19.1) | Â | ||
>6~8 hours: | 21 (16.0) | Â | ||
>8 hours: | 61 (46.6) | Â | ||
Types of cancera | Digestive system cancer: 72 (55.0); Lung cancer: 35 (26.7); | |||
 | Urogenital system cancer: 19 (14.5); Others: 5 (3.8) | |||
Dyad Characteristicsc | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Duration of marriage (mean± SD), years | 30.8±11.6 (ranging from 1–52) | |||
Relationship with their partner before the diagnosis of the cancer | Very good Bad | 115 (87.8) 0 | Normal | 16 (12.2) |
Change in the relationship with their partner after the diagnosis of the cancer | Improved Getting worse | 38 (29.0) 0 | No change | 93 (71.0) |
Financial burden on the family due to the treatment of cancer | Serious | 77 (58.8) | Normal | 49 (37.4) |
 | Mild or None | 5 (3.8) |  |  |