Table 1 Sample characteristics (N = 241dyads)a.
Variables | Patients/ n (%) | Caregiver/ n (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Age/year | M ± SD | 53.96 ± 15.37 | 45.18 ± 13.79 |
Median (P25, P75) | 56 (44.5, 66.0) | 44 (34.5, 55.0) | |
< 45 | 60 (24.9) | 121 (50.2) | |
45 ~ | 88 (36.5) | 83 (34.4) | |
≥ 60 | 93 (38.6) | 37 (15.4) | |
Sex | Male | 126 (52.3) | 111 (46.1) |
Female | 115 (47.7) | 130 (53.9) | |
Marital status | Married | 206 (85.5) | 210 (87.1) |
Single/Divorced/Widowed | 35 (14.5) | 31 (12.9) | |
Education | ≤ Middle school | 138 (57.3) | 107 (44.4) |
> middle school | 103 (42.7) | 134 (55.6) | |
Employment status | Employed | 43 (17.8) | 106 (44.0) |
Unemployed/Retired | 198 (82.2) | 135 (56.0) | |
Place of residence | Rural | 115 (47.7) | – |
Urban | 126 (52.3) | – | |
Relationship patient–caregiver | Spouse | – | 110 (45.6) |
Non–spouse | – | 131 (54.4) | |
Adult children | – | 94 (39.0) | |
Others | – | 37 (15.4) | |
Average household income/RMB | ≤ 3000 | 133 (55.2) | 124 (51.4) |
> 3000 | 108 (44.8) | 117 (48.6) | |
Payment type for medical expenses | NCMS | 106 (44.0) | – |
URBMI/UEBMI | 130 (53.9) | – | |
At own expenses | 5 (2.1) | – | |
Caregiver with a chronic condition | Yes | – | 45 (18.7) |
No | – | 196 (81.3) | |
Similar previous caregiving experience | Yes | – | 61 (25.3) |
No | – | 180 (74.7) | |
Care for the patient alone | Yes | – | 140 (58.1) |
No | – | 101 (41.9) | |
Length of care | < 6 months | – | 120 (49.8) |
6 ~ 12 months | – | 64 (26.5) | |
> 12 months | – | 57 (23.7) | |
Caregiving hours per day | < 6 h | – | 80 (33.2) |
6 ~ 12 h | – | 70 (29.0) | |
12 ~ 18 h | – | 31 (12.9) | |
18 ~ 24 h | – | 60 (24.9) | |
Primary cancer | Solid tumor | 175 (72.6) | – |
Hematologic tumor | 66 (27.4) | – | |
Time since advanced cancer diagnosis/month | Median (P25, P75) | 8 (3.0, 17.5) | – |
≤ 8 months+ | 126 (52.3) | – | |
> 8 months | 115 (47.7) | – | |
Comorbidities | Yes | 56 (23.2) | – |
No | 185 (76.8) | – | |
ECOG PS | ≤ 2 | 201 (83.4) | – |
> 2 | 40 (16.6) | – | |
