Psycho-educational Intervention for Caregivers of Head and Neck Cancer Patients; An experimental initiative from India

Abstract

Head and neck cancer patients experience greater psychosocial problems and functional disabilities than other cancer patients because of the location of the disease and treatment. Consequently, it hampers their activities of daily living, making them dependent on the care giver. Eventually, caregivers have several needs, especially during the initial phase of hospitalization as they are unprepared for the task, lack the required knowledge and skills in care giving. Thus they face a number of problems in all the spheres of their life. Hence, this study is aimed to understand their needs, develop a psycho educational intervention program based on it and assess its feasibility. It was taken up because of limited number of Indian studies and increase in the number of incidences owing to the changing life style. Exploratory research design was used to assess the feasibility of the program. 30 family caregivers of head and neck hospitalized cancer patients undergoing curative treatment were selected using survey method. Needs were assessed using standardized tool. Intervention program was developed and implemented, after which, qualitative and quantitative data was collected to assess its feasibility. Findings indicated that the intervention program was feasible and beneficial to the care givers and the patients.