Effect of death literacy on care burden and psychological well-being in caregivers of oncology patients

Abstract

Objectives Death literacy is a key factor in death-related psychosocial processes among caregivers. This research was carried out to determine the death literacy levels, care burdens and psychological well-being of individuals caring for cancer patients and to examine the relationships between these variables.Methods The research, planned in a descriptive and cross-sectional design, was carried out in the oncology clinics of a university hospital between 16 October 2024 and 1 January 2025. The sample of the study consisted of 170 caregivers using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected with the Descriptive characteristics form, Death Literacy Scale, Caregiving Burden Scale and Psychological Well-being Scale. Statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS V.25.0 program; non-parametric tests, correlation and multiple regression analyses were used.Results Participants' death literacy and care burden levels were found to be moderate and their psychological well-being levels were found to be high. A low level of significant positive correlation was found between death literacy and psychological well-being. In contrast, no significant relationship was observed between death literacy and care burden. Education level and active participation in the care process are important factors that positively affect both death literacy and psychological well-being. Care burden was found to be higher in individuals with low education levels and single individuals.Conclusions There is a need for education-based structured interventions to support the coping skills with death of caregiving individuals, to increase their psychological well-being and to reduce their care burdens.