Evaluation of the Level of Burden on Caregivers of Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Radiotherapy, one of the key components of cancer care, creates significant physical, emotional, and logistical burdens on patients and caregivers. The objective of this study was to assess the level of caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy at a tertiary care cancer center in central India and to determine the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with caregiver burden. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 217 informal caregivers of cancer patients who had undergone at least 15 fractions of radiotherapy were surveyed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Statistical analysis was conducted using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by post hoc analysis using the Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner (DSCF) test. Results: Among 217 caregivers surveyed, 32.2% experienced severe burden, 36.8% experienced moderate-to-severe burden, 24.4% reported mild-to-moderate burden, and 6.4% felt mild burden. Significant correlations were found between caregiver burden and gender (p