Exploring the impact of person-centered primary care for caregivers on family caregiver burden in Japan: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Caregiver burden represents a pressing public health challenge in aging societies. The quality of primary care may shape caregiver experiences, yet current evidence remains scarce. OBJECTIVE(S): To examine the association between primary care quality and overall and domain-specific caregiver burden among family caregivers aged ≥60 years in Shirakawa City, Japan. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving adults aged ≥60 years in Shirakawa City, Japan, as part of the 2023 Shirakawa Quality of Life (QOL) Project. The sample included 250 family caregivers who self-identified as providing care for a relative. Primary care quality was measured using the Person-Centered Primary Care Measure (PCPCM) (score range: 0-4; higher scores = better quality) and caregiver burden using the Burden Index of Caregivers (BIC) (score range: 0-44; higher scores = greater burden). Multivariable linear regression with multiple imputations was performed. RESULTS: Higher quality of primary care was significantly associated with lower caregiver burden overall (adjusted β = -2.8; 95% CI, -4.1 to -1.5). Consistent associations were found across time-dependent, emotional, existential, and physical burden domains. A weaker but still statistically significant association emerged from service-related burden. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that person-centered primary care may contribute to reducing multiple dimensions of caregiver burden. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal relationships and guide the development of targeted interventions.