Abstract: Objective: To investigate the current status of Anticipatory Grief (AG) and its influencing factors of family caregivers of patients with cancer. Methods: A convenience sample of 154 family caregivers was selected from a tertiary grade A hospital in Guangzhou from December 2018 to April 2019. The participants were surveyed by a questionnaire composed of demographic information, Chinese version of Anticipatory Grief Scale (AGS) and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview. Results: The median score of AGS was 71.00 (63.00,82.00), with the lowest score of 38.00 and the highest score of 111.00. The AG of family caregivers of patients with cancer was positively correlated with caregiver burden. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that caregiver burden, family financial condition and patients' compliance with treatment were the influencing factors. Conclusion: Family caregivers of patient with cancer showed obvious AG. It is suggested that medical staff identify caregivers' AG precisely and take effective measures to improve their mental state according to different influencing factors.

Key words: cancer; family caregiver; Anticipatory Grief; influencing factors