Table 1 Characteristics of caregivers and their patients
Ages | |
Mean Age (SD) of Caregivers in years | 46.2 (15.1), Range 15–75 |
Mean Age (SD) of Patients | 62.0 (12.4), Range 6–88 |
Sex of Caregiver | |
Male | 50 (26%) |
Female | 150 (74%) |
Relationship to Patient | |
Children | 136 (68%) |
Spouses | 60 (30%) |
Other relatives | 4 (2%) |
Level of Education of Caregiver | |
Never schooled | 2 (1%) |
Primary education | 32 (16%) |
GCE Ordinary Level examination | 68 (34%) |
GCE Advanced Level examination | 79 (39.5%) |
Vocational training | 11 (5.5%) |
University level | 8 (4%) |
Monthly Household Earnings (USD) | |
< 50 | 5 (2.5%) |
50–100 | 15 (7.5%) |
100–250 | 55 (27.5%) |
250–500 | 124 (62%) |
> 500 | 1 (0.5%) |
Type of Malignancy | |
Oral & Lingual | 3 (1.5%) |
Nasopharyngeal | 3 (1.5%) |
Laryngeal | 2 (1%) |
Broncheal | 12 (6%) |
Gastro-oesophageal | 15 (7.5%) |
Colorectal | 40 (20%) |
Hepatocellular | 5 (2.5%) |
Biliary | 4 (2%) |
Urological (including prostate & bladder) | 15 (7.5%) |
Haematological (leukaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma) | 52 (26%) |
Breast | 18 (9%) |
Gynaecological | 20 (10%) |
Penile and testicular | 2 (1%) |
Primary Cerebral | 5 (2.5%) |
Primary Bone | 4 (2%) |
Modified Barthel Index Score of Patients | |
Total dependency (≤ 20) | 12 (6%) |
Severe dependency (21–60) | 31 (15.5%) |
Moderate dependency (61–90) | 77 (38.5%) |
Mild dependency (91–99) | 76 (38%) |
Independence (100) | 4 (2%) |
Karnofsky Performance Status of Patients | |
No complaints; no evidence of disease (100%) | 1 (0.5%) |
Able to carry on normal activity; minor signs or symptoms of disease (90%) | 34 (17%) |
Normal activity with effort; some signs or symptoms of disease (80%) | 72 (36%) |
Cares for self; unable to carry on normal activity or to do active work (70%) | 47 (23.5%) |
Requires occasional assistance but is able to care for most personal needs (60%) | 18 (9%) |
Requires considerable assistance and frequent medical care (50%) | 10 (5%) |
Disabled; requires special care and assistance (40%) | 5 (2.5%) |
Severely disabled; hospital admission indicated although death not imminent (30%) | 2 (1%) |
Very sick; hospital admission necessary; active supportive treatment necessary (20%) | 2 (1%) |
Moribund; fatal processes progressing rapidly (10%) | 1 (0.5% |
Dead (0%) | 0 (0%) |