Factors associated with health-related quality of life among caregivers of palliative care patients

Background: Due to the complexities of end-of-life care, caregivers of palliative patients often face burdens that impact their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, it is still inconclusive regarding the HRQoL of palliative care patients’ caregivers and its associated factors. This study aimed to explore the HRQoL of caregivers and examine the associated factors. Participants and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 154 caregivers of palliative care patients at Lampang Hospital from 2021 to 2024. Data were collected from electronic medical records and Palliative Care Team documentation, including sociodemographic characteristics of both caregivers and patients, caregiving duration, patient performance status, symptoms, and advance care planning. HRQoL was assessed using the EuroQol Five-Dimension Five-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify associated factors. Results: Of the 154 caregivers, 72.73% were female, and the mean age was 49 years, with 42.86% having been caregivers for > 6 months. Most patients had a Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) score of 40–60 (62.99%). Pain (85.06%) and dyspnea (60.39%) were common among patients. The mean utility score of caregivers was 0.79 [standard deviation (SD) = 0.21]. The regression showed that a 10-point increase in PPS was associated with a 0.002 increase in the utility score (p = 0.021). Conversely, caring for patients with dyspnea reduced the utility score by 0.084 (p = 0.018), and caregiving for more than 6 months decreased it by 0.099 (p = 0.010). Conclusions: Caregivers’ HRQoL is significantly influenced by patient functionality, dyspnea, and prolonged caregiving. Interventions focused on effective symptom management and caregiver support are essential to enhance caregivers’ well-being and HRQoL.