Objective:To verify the association between the level of comfort of the caregiver and
socio-demographic variables related to caregiving, and the patientâs
functional status and symptoms. Method:Cross-sectional study with non-probabilistic intentional sample. The
instruments Palliative Performance Scale (score 0 to 100%), Edmonton Symptom
Assessment Scale (symptom scores from zero to ten) and Holistic Comfort
Questionnaire (total score ranging from 49 to 294 and mean score from 1 to
6) were used. The relationship between comfort scores and independent
variables was calculated by multiple linear regression. Results:Fifty informal caregivers participated in the study - 80% were female, 32%
were 60 years old or older, 36% were children of the patient, 58% had paid
work and 60% did not have help in the care. The mean overall comfort was
4.52 points. A better functional status of the patients was associated with
higher levels of comfort of the caregivers. Older caregivers who received
helped in the care activities presented higher comfort scores. Conclusion:The level of comfort of caregivers of cancer patients receiving palliative
care was associated with socio-demographic variables and patientsâ
functional status and symptoms.