Table 3 Association between the characteristics of family caregivers or (professional) care and the degree of family caregiver burden in the 2 nd to 4 th week before death (n = 74)*
Fairly heavy to severe burden (n = 40) | No to some burden (n = 31) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% | % | P-value | |
Family caregiver characteristics | |||
Main family carer | |||
Age (mean, SD) | 63 (SD 13) | 62 (SD 11) | 0.50 |
Gender, male | 27 | 32 | 0.66 |
Partner of patient | 70 | 68 | 0.83 |
Employed | 43 | 43 | 0.94 |
Number of other caregivers | 0.18 | ||
No other family carers | 11 | 30 | |
1-2 other family carers | 53 | 33 | |
3-5 other family carers | 21 | 23 | |
> 5 other family carers | 16 | 13 | |
Characteristics of care | |||
GP visits | 0.60 | ||
No visits | 5 | 4 | |
1 visit | 34 | 46 | |
2 or more visits | 61 | 50 | |
Nursing care | 85 | 69 | 0.12 |