The cancer caregiving experience of caregivers of Mexican ancestry.

Abstract

The act of providing care may be the same in all ethnic groups, but the way caregiving is defined by family members is influenced by cultural values and beliefs. This study describes the caregiving experience and challenges of caregivers of Mexican ancestry. Qualitative interviews of 20 family caregivers and thematic analysis of transcribed audiotapes identified four themes that characterized their caregiving experience. These themes include an emphasis on family values, a strong commitment to care, difficulties dealing with everyday life realities, and a reliance on spirituality, all of which added to the meaningfulness and burden of caregiving. Further investigation within a cultural context is warranted in the development of interventions and programs to better assist caregivers in coping with the challenges of providing cancer care.