Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: June | Volume: 8 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 192-202
Life Quality, Comfort and Anxiety Levels of Family Members Caring for the Cancer Patient
Sebnem Cinar Yucel1, Gamze Goke Arslan2, Elif Unsal Avdal3, Cigdem Kurt4, Hande Celebi4, Hamide Kavli4, Ziynet Orhan4, Nuray Usta4, Yusuf Aslan4
1Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey,
2Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences; Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University, Karaman, Turkey,
3Internal Medicine Nursing, Faculty of Health Science; University of İzmir Kâtip Çelebi, Izmir, Turkey,
4Faculty of Nursing, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
Corresponding Author: Gamze Goke Arslan
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to assess the life quality, comfort and anxiety levels of family caregivers of cancer patients in Turkey.
Methods: The study population consisted of first degree relatives caring for cancer patients who went to the adult unit of a Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Hospital in a University to receive ambulatory chemotherapy (n=85). The study data were collected by using the Individual Description Form, the Scale of Quality of Life-Family Version (QOL-FV), General Comfort Scale (GCQ) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).
Results: It was determined that the family members had an age average of 41.31±12.60 (min-max: 19-64) and a caring duration of 13.17±9.07 months. 54.1% were women, 44.7% workers and 70.6% married. Total score averages of family members caring for cancer patients were determined as follows; QOL-FV; 164.51±56.32, GCQ; 2.62±0.44, BAI; 16.49±14.09.
Conclusions: It was determined that family members caring for cancer patients have a moderate level of life quality, comfort and anxiety. Nurses should assess their caregiver’s quality of life, comfort, anxiety levels before, during and after treatment periods and educate them about adverse effects of cancer treatments and needed care.
Key words: anxiety, cancer patient, comfort, life quality.