Abstract Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the current state and influencing factors of guilt among family caregivers of children with osteosarcoma, providing a foundation for healthcare professionals to develop intervention strategies. Methods: Utilizing convenience sampling, family caregivers of children with osteosarcoma hospitalized in five tertiary Grade A hospitals in Henan Province were selected as survey participants from March 2023 to March 2025. Data collection tools included general information questionnaires, the Caregiver Guilt Questionnaire, the Psychological Detachment Scale, and the Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale to assess the current state of guilt among family caregivers. Statistical analyses such as univariate analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple stepwise linear regression were conducted to identify significant influencing factors. Results: A total of 112 questionnaires were distributed, with 108 valid responses received, resulting in an effective response rate of 96.43%. The median total guilt score for family caregivers of children with osteosarcoma was 54.00 (interquartile range: 42.00, 64.00). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the caregiver's gender, average daily caregiving hours, average monthly household income, presence of co-caregivers, level of psychological detachment, level of self-regulatory fatigue, the child's status as an only child, self-care ability, disease stage, and presence of metastasis were significant predictors of guilt among family caregivers (P Conclusion: Guilt among caregivers of children with osteosarcoma is moderately severe. Female caregivers, those providing longer daily care hours, caregivers of only children, those with children having poorer self-care abilities, caregivers of children with advanced-stage disease or metastasis, and those experiencing higher levels of self-regulatory fatigue tend to experience more severe guilt. In contrast, higher average monthly household income, the presence of co-caregivers, and better psychological detachment ability are associated with reduced guilt. Implications for Nursing: Healthcare professionals should create effective interventions targeting these identified factors to effectively alleviate guilt feelings in family caregivers of children with osteosarcoma.
Zhao et al. (2025) studied this question.