Cancer Care Burden among Primary Family Caregivers of Iranian Hematologic Cancer Patients.

Masoomeh Abbasnezhad,Fariborz Roshangar,Arman Azadi,Akram Ghahramanian,Golshan Berahmany,Jamal Eivazi,Azad Rahmani

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.13.5499

Masoomeh Abbasnezhad, Fariborz Roshangar + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.13.5499

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Abstract

Providing care for hematologic cancer patients may lead to many negative complications in different aspects of life in their family caregivers. Based on a wide review of relevant literature, there are limited data about the burden of giving care for hematologic cancer patients on their primary family caregivers in Iran or other Middle Eastern countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the cancer care burden on primary family caregivers of hematologic cancer patients, in terms of physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and financial aspects. In this descriptive study, 151 primary family caregivers of hematologic cancer patients referred to two cancer care centers in East Azerbaijan Province in northwest of Iran participated. The Financial Distress/Financial Well-being Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Vaux Social Support Questionnaire, Spiritual Well-being Scale, and SF-36 were used for data collection. Data analysis was performed with SPSS software. The findings of this study indicated that the primary family caregivers experience a high level of financial distress and a significant percentage of them suffered from anxiety and depression. In addition, the physical quality of life in these caregivers was moderate. On the other hand, spiritual health and social support of participants was at an acceptable level. Iranian primary family caregivers of hematologic cancer patients experience many problems in physical, psychological, and financial aspects of their life. Therefore, developing care plans for reducing these problems appears necessary.

Highlights

The diagnosis of cancer may change all aspects of patients’ life, and these effects are not comparable to any other disease (Kearney and Giulio, 2012)
According to extensive review of relevant literature, this study is one of the first studies investigated this subject among family caregivers of hematologic cancer patients in Iran or other Middle Eastern countries
The results of a previous systematic review demonstrated that diagnosis of cancer made high level of financial distress for both cancer patients and their family members even in developed countries (Grunfeld et al, 2004; Longo et al, 2006; Hanratty et al, 2007)

Summary

Introduction

The diagnosis of cancer may change all aspects of patients’ life, and these effects are not comparable to any other disease (Kearney and Giulio, 2012). Cancer patients may experience many problems in physical, psychological, social, financial and spiritual aspects of their life (Massie, 2004; Aghabarari et al, 2007; HoseiniYazdi et al, 2012). Cancer patients’ caregivers possibly experience many changes in various aspects of their life including physical, emotional, social, financial, and spiritual aspects which are considered as a cancer care burden (Northouse et al, 2000; Haley et al, 2001; Guadalupe et al, 2010). The aim of this study was to investigate the cancer care burden on primary family caregivers of hematologic cancer patients, in terms of physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and financial aspects. Conclusions: Iranian primary family caregivers of hematologic cancer patients experience many problems in physical, psychological, and financial aspects of their life. Developing care plans for reducing these problems appears necessary

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