Supportive care needs and associated factors among caregivers of elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer: an exploratory study

Gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric and colorectal cancers, are major contributors to cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, placing significant burdens on patients and their informal caregivers. This study aims to evaluate the level of supportive needs among informal caregivers of patients with gastrointestinal cancer and to identify key factors influencing these needs.

We conducted a descriptive survey involving 335 informal caregivers of patients with gastrointestinal cancer at a large hospital in Shanghai, China, from September 2023 to April 2024. Multivariate linear regression analysis was employed to examine potential factors affecting supportive needs, including demographic information, caregiver burden, and self-efficacy.

The average supportive needs score among the 335 caregivers was 113.59 ± 52.97. This score was positively correlated with caregiver burden (r = 0.363, P < 0.001), self-efficacy (r = 0.224, P < 0.001), and patients' Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score (r = 0.119, P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the care experience, duration of caregiving, relationship (sibling), self-efficacy, caregiver burden, KPS score of patients, treatment duration of patients, and cancer type of patients were significant factors influencing the supportive care needs of caregivers for elderly gastrointestinal cancer patients (P < 0.05).

Informal caregivers of elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer often have increased levels of supportive needs. Clinical practice should include comprehensive assessments of these needs and the development of targeted interventions to improve caregiving skills and reduce caregiver burden, thereby enhancing the quality of life for both caregivers and patients.