Caregiver Acceptance Research Articles

Stage 1 Registered Report: The experiences and perceptions of parent-child interaction therapy for parents of young children with communication difficulties: A qualitative evidence synthesis protocol

Background: Parent-child interaction therapy refers to a group of interventions mediated by trained parents to address areas of developmental difficulties in children. In the field of speech and language therapy it is used in early intervention for children with speech, language and communication difficulties. The intervention involves training parents and caregivers on the importance of responsivity and language input in daily interactions and coaches them on strategies to implement these with the children. As the success of the intervention is heavily influenced by caregiver engagement, understanding and acceptance, it is important to consider their views. However, to date there has been limited work on synthesising parental views of this intervention. Methods: This is a protocol for a qualitative evidence synthesis of peer-reviewed qualitative papers addressing the experiences and perceptions of parent-child interaction therapy for parents of children with communication difficulties. We will complete a systematic search of 11 databases, review the reference lists and complete a cited reference search of all included studies. Two authors will independently screen tests for inclusion, initially by title and abstract, with full-text screening as necessary. Thematic synthesis will be used for all included studies. We will appraise the quality of included studies using CASP and confidence in the review findings using GRADE CERQual. Discussion: As the views of parents are pivotal in the success of this intervention, the findings from this synthesis should help to guide best practice and policy for the future implementation of parent child interaction therapy for children with communication difficulties..

Stage 1 Registered Report: The experiences and perceptions of parent-child interaction therapy for parents of young children with communication difficulties: A qualitative evidence synthesis protocol

Background: Parent-child interaction therapy refers to a group of interventions mediated by trained parents to address areas of developmental difficulties in children. In the field of speech and language therapy it is used in early intervention for children with speech, language and communication difficulties. The intervention involves training parents and caregivers on the importance of responsivity and language input in daily interactions and coaches them on strategies to implement these with the children. As the success of the intervention is heavily influenced by caregiver engagement, understanding and acceptance, it is important to consider their views. However, to date there has been limited work on synthesising parental views of this intervention. Methods: This is a protocol for a qualitative evidence synthesis of peer-reviewed qualitative papers addressing the experiences and perceptions of parent-child interaction therapy for parents of children with communication difficulties. We will complete a systematic search of 11 databases, review the reference lists and complete a cited reference search of all included studies. Two authors will independently screen tests for inclusion, initially by title and abstract, with full-text screening as necessary. Thematic synthesis will be used for all included studies. We will appraise the quality of included studies using CASP and confidence in the review findings using GRADE CERQual. Discussion: As the views of parents are pivotal in the success of this intervention, the findings from this synthesis should help to guide best practice and policy for the future implementation of parent child interaction therapy for children with communication difficulties..

Caregiver acceptability of the guidelines for managing young infants with possible serious bacterial infections (PSBI) in primary care facilities in rural Bangladesh.

Many infants with possible serious bacterial infections (PSBI) do not receive inpatient treatment because hospital care may not be affordable, accessible, or acceptable for families. In 2015, WHO issued guidelines for managing PSBI in young infants (0-59 days) with simpler antibiotic regimens when hospital care is not feasible. Bangladesh adopted WHO's guidelines for implementation in outpatient primary health centers. We report results of an implementation research study that assessed caregiver acceptability of the guidelines in three rural sub-districts of Bangladesh during early implementation (October 2015-August 2016). We included 19 outpatient primary health centers involved in the initial rollout of the infection management guidelines. We extracted data for all PSBI cases (N = 192) from facility registers to identify gaps in referral feasibility, simplified antibiotic treatment, and follow-up. Focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted with both caregivers (6 FGDs; 23 IDIs) and providers (2 FGDs; 28 IDIs) to assess caregiver acceptability of the guidelines. Referral to the hospital was not feasible for many families (83.3%; N = 160/192) and acceptance varied by infection severity. Barriers to referral feasibility included economic and household factors, and previous experiences with poor quality of care at the sub-district hospital. Conversely, providers and caregivers indicated high acceptability of simplified antibiotic treatment. 80% (N = 96/120) of infants with clinical severe infection for whom referral was not feasible returned to the facility for the second antibiotic injection. Some providers reported developing local solutions-including engaging informal providers in treatment of the infant-to address organizational barriers and promote treatment compliance. Follow-up of young infants receiving simplified treatment is critical, but only 67.4% (N = 87/129) of infants received fourth day follow-up. Some providers' reported deviations from the guidelines that shifted responsibility of follow-up to the caregiver, which may have contributed to lapses. Caregivers' perception of trust and communication with providers were influential in caregiver acceptability of care. Few caregivers accepted referral to the sub-district hospital, suggesting low acceptability of this option. When referral was not feasible, many caregivers reported satisfaction with simplified antibiotic treatment. Local solutions described by providers require further examination in this context to assess the safety and potential value of these strategies in outpatient treatment. Our findings suggest strengthening providers' interpersonal skills could improve caregiver acceptability of the guidelines.

Caregiver Perceptions and Acceptability of a Provitamin A Carotenoid, Iron and Zinc Rich Complementary Food Blend Prepared from Common Bean and Pumpkin in Rural Uganda.

Ugandan children are vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency (VAD), iron deficiency (ID) and zinc deficiency (ZnD) because they are fed on complementary foods (CFs) low in vitamin A, iron and zinc. This study developed a novel provitamin A carotenoid (PVAC), iron and zinc rich common bean pumpkin blend (BPB) complementary food (CF) from locally available pumpkin and common bean in Uganda and aimed to determine its acceptance, compared to a control pumpkin blend (PB). Seventy caregivers participated in the study. The sensory attributes (taste, colour, aroma, texture and general acceptability) of BPB and PB were rated using a five-point facial hedonic scale (1 = very bad, 2 = bad, 3 = neutral, 4 = good, 5 = very good). Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to assess the perceptions of caregivers about the BPB. The chi square test was used to detect the proportion difference for each sensory attribute between BPB and PB, whilst FGD data were analysed by thematic analysis. A proportion of 64% to 96% of the caregivers rated both BPB and PB as acceptable (good to very good) for all the sensory attributes. There was no significant difference in caregiver acceptability for all attributes between BPB and PB (p > 0.05). Caregivers had positive perceptions about the taste, texture, aroma and colour of the BPB. Caregivers were keen to know the specific varieties of common bean and pumpkin used to formulate the PVAC, iron and zinc rich BPB. In conclusion, BPB was acceptable to caregivers, and they were interested to know how to prepare and use it as a CF.

Morphine use for cancer pain: A strong analgesic used only at the end of life? A qualitative study on attitudes and perceptions of morphine in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers

Background: The prevalence of undertreated cancer pain remains high. Suboptimal pain control affects quality of life and results in psychological and emotional distress. Barriers to adequate pain control include fear of opioid dependence and its side effects. Aim: To investigate the attitudes and perceptions of morphine use in cancer pain in advanced cancer patients and their caregivers and to examine the influence of caregivers’ attitudes and perceptions on patients’ acceptance of morphine. Design: Qualitative study involving semi-structured individual interviews transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Setting/Participants: A total of 18 adult opioid-naïve patients with advanced cancer and 13 caregivers (n = 31) were recruited at a private tertiary hospital via convenience sampling. Results: Attitudes and perceptions of morphine were influenced by previous experiences. Prevalent themes were similar in both groups, including perceptions that morphine was a strong analgesic that reduced suffering, but associated with end-stage illness and dependence. Most participants were open to future morphine use for comfort and effective pain control. Trust in doctors’ recommendations was also an important factor. However, many preferred morphine as a last resort because of concerns about side effects and dependence, and the perception that morphine was only used at the terminal stage. Caregivers’ attitudes toward morphine did not affect patients’ acceptance of morphine use. Conclusion: Most participants were open to future morphine use despite negative perceptions as they prioritized optimal pain control and reduction of suffering. Focused education programs addressing morphine misperceptions might increase patient and caregiver acceptance of opioid analgesics and improve cancer pain control.

Non-invasive techniques for stimulating urine production in non-toilet trained children: a systematic review

BackgroundUrinary tract infection requires collection of a sterile urine specimen for diagnosis, which is difficult and time consuming in pre-continent children. This systematic review summarises evidence of the effectiveness of...

Needle-free injectors for mass administration of fractional dose inactivated poliovirus vaccine in Karachi, Pakistan: A survey of caregiver and vaccinator acceptability

The first large-scale vaccination campaign using needle-free jet injectors to administer fractional doses of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (fIPV) was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, in February 2019. Data on acceptability of jet injectors were collected from 610 vaccinators and 4898 caregivers during the first four days of the campaign. Of those with prior needle and syringe experience, both vaccinators and caregivers expressed a strong preference for jet injectors (578/592 [97.6%] and 4792/4813 [99.6%], respectively), citing ease of use, appearance, and child’s response to vaccination. Among caregivers, 4638 (94.7%) stated they would be more likely to bring their child for vaccination in a future campaign that used jet injectors. Mean vaccine coverage among towns administering fIPV was 98.7% – an increase by 18.4% over the preceding campaign involving full-dose IPV. Our findings demonstrate the strong acceptability of fIPV jet injectors and highlight the potential value of this method in future mass campaigns.

Caregiver's acceptability of zinc tablet for treatment of childhood diarrhea in rural and urban communities

Background: Zinc supplementation is a simple and affordable strategy for managing acute diarrhoea and preventing subsequent growth faltering and malnutrition. It has been shown that ORS and supplemental zinc, combined with continued feeding are the recommended interventions for treating diarrhoea among children. Objective: To determine the knowledge and acceptability of Zinc tablets in treatment of childhood dirrhoea. Materials and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional design was used. Data was analysed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate level using SPSS version 20. Results: Knowledge of caregivers about zinc treatment was found to be fair (40.4%) in both settings; up to 136 (45.0%) of the respondents had good knowledge. Over a half 84 (56.0%) of caregivers in the urban community compared to a quarter 52 (34.2%) of those in the rural community had good knowledge. This difference was statistically significant between urban and rural caregivers (P

Stage 1 Registered Report: The experiences and perceptions of parent-child interaction therapy for parents of young children with communication difficulties: A qualitative evidence synthesis protocol.

Background: Parent-child interaction therapy is an early intervention for children with speech, language and communication difficulties. It involves training parents and caregivers on the importance of responsivity and language input in daily interactions and coaches them on strategies to implement this with the children. As the success of the intervention is heavily influenced by caregiver engagement, understanding and acceptance, it is important to consider their views. However, to date there has been limited work on synthesizing parental views of this intervention. Methods: This is a protocol for a qualitative evidence synthesis of peer-reviewed papers addressing the experiences and perceptions of parent-child interaction therapy for parents of young children with communication difficulties. We will complete a systematic search of 11 databases, review the reference lists and complete a cited reference search of all included studies. Two authors will independently screen tests for inclusion, initially by title and abstract, with full-text screening as necessary. Thematic synthesis will be used for all included studies. We will appraise the quality of included studies using CASP and confidence in the review findings using GRADE CERQual. Discussion: The findings from this synthesis will help to guide best practice and policy for the implementation of parent child interaction therapy by considering the views of parents.

A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of a Multidisciplinary Intervention for Encopresis in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often delayed in achieving bowel continence, resulting in negative outcomes. In this pilot trial, 20 children with ASD and encopresis were randomly assigned to multidisciplinary intervention for encopresis (MIE; n = 10) or a waitlist control group (n = 10). The MIE group was treated for constipation and received a 10-day behavioral intervention that utilized suppositories to produce predictable bowel movements that were reinforced. Caregivers were trained to implement the intervention. Results support the feasibility of clinical trials of MIE, with high enrolment, competition, attendance, and caregiver acceptability. Preliminary outcomes were positive, with six of 10 in the MIE group achieving continence by the end of treatment compared to 0 in the control group (p = 0.005).Registered at clinicaltrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov); ID: NCT02383732.

Part I: A Quantitative Study of Social Risk Screening Acceptability in Patients and Caregivers

IntroductionDespite recent growth in healthcare delivery-based social risk screening, little is known about patient perspectives on these activities. This study evaluates patient and caregiver acceptability of social risk screening.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional survey of 969 adult patients and adult caregivers of pediatric patients recruited from 6 primary care clinics and 4 emergency departments across 9 states. Survey items included the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Accountable Health Communities’ social risk screening tool and questions about appropriateness of screening and comfort with including social risk data in electronic health records. Logistic regressions evaluated covariate associations with acceptability measures. Data collection occurred from July 2018 to February 2019; data analyses were conducted in February–March 2019.ResultsScreening was reported as appropriate by 79% of participants; 65% reported comfort including social risks in electronic health records. In adjusted models, higher perceived screening appropriateness was associated with previous exposure to healthcare-based social risk screening (AOR=1.82, 95% CI=1.16, 2.88), trust in clinicians (AOR=1.55, 95% CI=1.00, 2.40), and recruitment from a primary care setting (AOR=1.70, 95% CI=1.23, 2.38). Lower appropriateness was associated with previous experience of healthcare discrimination (AOR=0.66, 95% CI=0.45, 0.95). Higher comfort with electronic health record documentation was associated with previously receiving assistance with social risks in a healthcare setting (AOR=1.47, 95% CI=1.04, 2.07).ConclusionsA strong majority of adult patients and caregivers of pediatric patients reported that social risk screening was appropriate. Most also felt comfortable including social risk data in electronic health records. Although multiple factors influenced acceptability, the effects were moderate to small. These findings suggest that lack of patient acceptability is unlikely to be a major implementation barrier.

A survey of caregiver acculturation and acceptance of silver diamine fluoride treatment for childhood caries

BackgroundInterest in aqueous silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has been growing as a treatment for caries arrest. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify factors associated with caregiver acceptance of SDF treatment for children presenting with caries at 8 Federally Qualified Health Centers. The study purpose was to examine associations between caregiver acceptance of SDF treatment for children with caries and (1) sociodemographic and acculturation characteristics of caregivers and (2) clinical assessments of the children by dentists.MethodsA caregiver survey collected information on: sociodemographic characteristics; acculturation characteristics, measured using the validated Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (SASH); perceived benefits and barriers of SDF treatment, including caregiver comfort; and perceived health-related knowledge. Chart reviews were conducted to assess: the medical / dental insurance of pediatric patients; cumulative caries experience, measured using decayed, missing, filled teeth total scores (dmft / DMFT); whether operating room treatment was needed; and a record of caregiver acceptance of SDF treatment (the outcome measure). Standard logistic regression models were developed for caregiver acceptance of SDF treatment for their children as the binary outcome of interest (yes / no) to calculate unadjusted odds ratios (OR) and adjusted ORs for covariates of interest.ResultsOverall, 434 of 546 caregivers (79.5%) accepted SDF treatment for their children. A U-shaped relationship between caregiver odds of accepting SDF treatment and age group of pediatric patients was present, where caregivers were most likely to accept SDF treatment for their children who were either < 6 years or 9–14 years, and least likely to accept SDF treatment for children 6 to < 9 years. The relationship between acculturation and caregiver acceptance of SDF treatment depended upon whether or not caregivers were born in the United States: greater acculturation was associated with caregiver acceptance of SDF treatment among caregivers born in this country, and lower acculturation was associated with caregiver acceptance of SDF treatment among caregivers born elsewhere.ConclusionsCaregiver acceptance of SDF treatment is high; child’s age and caregiver comfort are associated with acceptance. Providers need to communicate the risks and benefits of evidence-based dental treatments to increasingly diverse caregiver and patient populations.

Acceptability of Adolescent Social and Behavioral Health Screening in the Emergency Department

PurposeThe American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine screening for social and behavioral health risks (SBHR) in adolescents. Because adolescents who seek care in emergency departments (EDs) may have riskier behaviors than adolescents who access primary care, the ED may be a strategic additional setting for screening. We sought to identify acceptable domains for comprehensive SBHR screening in a pediatric ED. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess adolescent and caregiver acceptance of ED-based SBHR screening across multiple domains. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with screening acceptance. McNemar's test was used to assess agreement within patient/caregiver dyads across domains. ResultsAmong our 516 study participants (347 adolescents and 169 caregivers), those who indicated that they “agree” or “strongly agree” that ED-based screening should be conducted were classified as finding screening acceptable. Acceptability rates ranged from 45.0% (firearm access) to 77.5% (suicidality) among adolescents and 61.5% (firearm access) to 84.0% (substance use) among caregivers. After adjusting for gender, race/ethnicity, and insurance status, adolescents were less accepting than caregivers of screening for: substance use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: .51; .31, .83; p < .01); violence (aOR: .63; .41, .97; p = .04); depression (aOR: .65; .42, .99; p = .04); human trafficking (aOR: .58; .39, .86; p < .01); and access to firearms (aOR: .47; .32, .70; p < .01). Shared agreement within adolescent/caregiver dyads ranged from 25.2% to 67.1%. ConclusionsA majority of adolescents and caregivers agree that ED-based SBHR screening should be conducted across most domains. Caregivers generally had higher rates of screening acceptance than adolescents.

How Interdisciplinary Teamwork Contributes to Psychosocial Cancer Support.

The organization of psychosocial care is rather complex, and its provision diverse. Access is affected by the acceptance and attitude of patients and professional caregivers toward psychosocial care. The aims of this study were to examine when patients with cancer experience quality psychosocial care and to identify circumstances in collaboration that contribute to patient-perceived positive psychosocial care. This study used a qualitative design in which semistructured interviews were conducted with patients, hospital workers, and primary health professionals. Psychosocial care is often requested but also refused by patients with cancer. Based on this discrepancy, a distinction is made between psychosocial support and psychosocial interventions. Psychosocial support aims to reduce the chaos in patients' lives caused by cancer and is not shunned by patients. Psychosocial interventions comprise the formal care offered in response to psychosocial problems. Numerous patients are reluctant to use psychosocial interventions, which are often provided by psychologists. Psychosocial care aims to assist patients in bearing the difficulties of cancer and its treatment. Patients prefer informal support, given often in conjunction with physical care. This study confirms the important role of nurses in promoting psychosocial care. Patients perceive much support from nurses, although nurses are not considered to be professional psychosocial caregivers. Being perceived as approachable and trustworthy offers nurses a significant opportunity to bring more intense psychosocial interventions within reach of cancer patients.

Caregiver acceptance of a patient navigation program to increase human papillomavirus vaccination in pediatric clinics: a qualitative program evaluation

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this evaluation was to examine the acceptability of a multi-component patient navigator (PN) intervention program designed to decrease barriers to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among caregivers of adolescents. We sought to understand the most important components of the program from the caregivers’ perspective and to evaluate remaining barriers to vaccination. Method: Caregivers of children 9–17 years old (N = 102) participated in qualitative semi-structured interviews with questions informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior. These interviews assessed experiences with a PN program which offered HPV vaccination, scheduling, and reminders in pediatric clinics. We included randomly selected 46 program participant transcripts and 11 decliner transcripts. A thematic approach was used to analyze transcripts for themes related to acceptability of HPV vaccination, important program components, and any problems encountered. Results: Major themes included: reasons for making HPV vaccination decision, helpful program components and suggestions for improvement, and remaining barriers to vaccination. Those who declined vaccination stated that their child was too young or not ready to think about sex, or they did not have enough information to make a decision. However, they felt that PNs were respectful of their decision. Program participants felt that vaccination was an important way to prevent cancer. Program participants had often not been aware of the vaccine and felt that having it explained was very helpful. Conclusion: This program evaluation found that caregivers of pediatric patients, even those who declined the HPV vaccine, appreciated the program and felt it provided important information about the vaccine.

Caregiver Communication About Cancer: Development of a mhealth resource to support family caregiver communication burden.

The aim of this study is to illustrate an evidence-based and theoretically informed mhealth resource (smartphone app) designed to provide communication support for informal cancer caregivers (friends or family members). An eight-step process was conducted: (a) review of existing print resources, (b) selection of theoretical framework for content development, (c) integration of stakeholder feedback and literacy assessment into an alpha print model, (d) review of existing mhealth resources, (e) development of prototype, (f) assessment of caregiver acceptability (n=5), (g) assessment of quality and perceived impact by cancer providers (n=26), and (h) acceptability testing with caregivers (n=6). Key stakeholders were integrated throughout development and user testing of this iOS smartphone app. The smartphone app consists of talking tips and resources for caregiver communication with the patient, family, far away family, and health care providers, as well as general information sharing features. This study demonstrates feasibility and development of an evidence-based and theory-driven mhealth resource to support caregiver communication about cancer. This is the first theory-driven mhealth application created to support the communication burden experienced by cancer caregivers. A larger study is needed to establish the efficacy of the app as an intervention for caregivers.

Feasibility of The Incredible Years Parent Program for Preschool Children on The Autism Spectrum in two U.S. sites

BackgroundParent strain and burden are high in families raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Caregivers of young children with ASD are particularly vulnerable to stress. Yet, few interventions address the direct needs of this growing population of parents. This pilot trial describes the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term outcomes of The Incredible Years Parent Program for Preschool Children on the Autism Spectrum or with Language Delays (IY-ASD) in two U.S. locations. MethodWe recruited caregivers of children ages to 2–6 years old with ASD to participate in a non-randomized pilot trial of IY-ASD. We aimed to describe our program delivery process and assess 1) participant retention rates and reasons for program/research discontinuation; 2) caregiver acceptability of IY-ASD; and 3) pre- and post-intervention measures of parenting stress, caregiver coping, and child behavior. ResultsOf the 50 parents who enrolled, 42 completed IY-ASD (84%). We analyzed data for 36 participants after accounting for partners and a participant lost to follow-up. Program acceptability was high. Total and child-related parenting stress significantly decreased at posttest. We found no statistically significant changes in caregiver coping, parent-related stress, or challenging child behaviors. ConclusionsIY-ASD is a feasible and acceptable program for parents raising young children with ASD. A randomized controlled trial is needed to rigorously test the effectiveness of the intervention. Future research should consider a longer program period (i.e., 15–16 weeks); ASD-specific outcome measures; and, longer-term follow-up to examine program effects beyond post-intervention, as well as potential IY-ASD modifications to meet the diverse needs of participants.

Patient and Caregiver Attitudes Towards Comprehensive Behavioral Health Screening in the Emergency Department

Purpose: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine screening for behavioral and mental health risk (BHS) in adolescents. Because adolescents who seek care in emergency departments (EDs) may have riskier behaviors than adolescents who access primary care, the ED may be a strategic setting for screening. The objective of this study was to assess patient and caregiver acceptance of a comprehensive behavioral health screen in the …

Coping Strategies, Stress, and Support Needs in Caregivers of Children with Mucopolysaccharidosis.

The mucopolysaccharidoses are a set of rare, inherited conditions that can have a catastrophic impact on those affected and their families. Because of the rarity of these disorders, little is known regarding the challenges faced by families of those affected and what coping mechanisms are commonly used. Coping is a way to manage demands that occur in one's environment or within oneself. Medical social workers historically have facilitated this process while providing support to patients who are responding to pressures of their diagnosis and the system.A questionnaire of demographics and qualitative questions, along with the Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) and Brief COPE, was sent by electronic survey to caregivers of children with MPS. The results of Brief COPE showed that problem-focused coping was more frequently used than emotion-focused (p<0.001) or dysfunctional coping (p<0.0001). Acceptance was the most frequently used coping strategy (p<0.05). The results of PIP showed that emotionally distressing events were the most difficult (p<0.001), while events related to medical care occurred at the highest frequency (p<0.001). Psychosocial support provided by medical social workers significantly increased acceptance of caregivers (p=0.04). Guidance on what to expect provided by any member of the care team increased denial (p=0.02) and the difficulty of emotional distress (p=0.04). This study identified commonly used coping strategies and measured stress among caregivers of children with MPS, as well as access to and use of psychosocial support services. Results highlight the urgency to improve the coverage and quality of psychosocial support and other support services.

Perceived social support and the sense of coherence in patient-caregiver dyad versus acceptance of illness in cancer patients.

Acceptance of illness is a significant determinant of further coping with a disease. Development of illness acceptance may be associated with the sense of coherence and perception of social support. Cancer is an example of a crisis situation, which affects both the patient and his/her close relatives. Consequently, acceptance of illness may be influenced by factors originating from both sides of caregiver-patient dyad. The aim of this study was to analyse direct and indirect interrelationships between perceived support and the sense of coherence in patient-caregiver dyad, and acceptance of illness in cancer patients. Cross-sectional study. The study included 80 dyads composed of cancer patients and their caregivers. Only cancer patients undergoing oncological treatment at the time of the study, for at least 3months but no longer than 12months, were enrolled. All subjects completed perceived support subscale included in the Berlin Social Support Scales, sense of coherence-29 questionnaire to determine the sense of coherence and Acceptance of Illness Scale. Compared to cancer patients, their caregivers presented with significantly lower levels of perceived social support and weaker sense of coherence. The sense of coherence in caregivers and patients was determined by their perceived support levels. The sense of coherence in caregivers turned out to be a key resource influencing acceptance of illness in cancer patients, both directly and indirectly, via their perceived social support and their sense of coherence. The sense of coherence, an intrinsic psychological factor determined by social support, is an important determinant of illness acceptance. Functioning of cancer patients is also modulated by psychosocial characteristics of their caregivers. Greater support offered to caregivers may substantially strengthen the sense of coherence in caregivers and cancer patients and, therefore, may improve the functioning of patient-caregiver dyad in a situation of neoplastic disease.