Hsiang Hua Lu

National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taipei University of Nursing & Health Sciences, Taiwan

Abstract Title: Caregiving Competence and Family Function Among Caregivers of Individuals with Brain Tumors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Biography:

The author is a PhD candidate at National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences and a registered nurse in the Emergency Department of National Taiwan University Hospital, with over 11 years of clinical experience. Her clinical expertise includes emergency and critical care as well as oncology nursing. She has experience publishing in SSCI-indexed journals, including Healthcare, and has participated in several international nursing conferences. Her research interests include scale development, self-efficacy theory, pain management, caregiving competence, and family-centered nursing interventions in acute and oncology settings.

Research Interest:

Objective: Primary caregivers of individuals with brain tumors are often required to assume complex caregiving roles involving physical care, emotional support, and coordination of family roles. Although caregiver burden has been widely examined, limited research has explored the relationship between caregiving competence and family functioning within neuro-oncology contexts. This study aimed to examine the association between caregiving competence and family function among primary caregivers of patients with brain tumors.
Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was adopted. Primary family caregivers of patients diagnosed with primary malignant brain tumors or brain metastases were recruited from a neurosurgery ward of a tertiary medical center in northern Taiwan using convenience sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, including caregiver and patient demographics, the Chinese version of the Caregiving Competence Scale, and the Family Assessment Device–General Functioning scale (reverse scored). Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted.
Results: Caregiving competence was significantly associated with family function. Higher perceived caregiving competence was correlated with lower levels of family dysfunction, reflecting healthier family communication, emotional support, and collaborative problem-solving. Family function remained a significant predictor of caregiving competence after controlling for caregiver and patient characteristics.
Discussion: The findings indicate that caregiving competence is embedded within the family system rather than being solely an individual attribute. Healthier family functioning may enhance caregivers’ confidence and effectiveness in managing caregiving demands. These results highlight the importance of family-centered nursing interventions and caregiver empowerment strategies in neuro-oncology care to promote caregiver competence and family resilience.