Professional Documents
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2]
Original Article
ABSTRACT
Objective: Cancer is a disease that not only aects the individuals
mental and physical integrity but also aects the functionality of
the family system. Caregivers experience stress when patients
cannot cope with the symptoms they are experiencing. The
stress experienced by caregivers gives rise to psychological and
physical symptoms. The purpose of this study is to determine
the attitude of coping with stress of family caregivers of cancer
patients. Methods: This study was conducted as a descriptive
research at the Medical Oncology Clinic. The study sample group
comprised of 127 family caregivers. In the collection of the data,
the Personel Information Form and Attitude of Coping with
Stress Inventory were used. Results: The coping attitude used
Introduction
DOI:
10.4103/2347-5625.135822
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Instruments
Demographic and clinical characteristics
A personel information form was used to gather information
about the descriptive characteristics of caregivers and their
Statistical analysis
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Gender
Female
67
52.8
Male
60
47.2
Age, yrs
Ethical considerations
18-30
47
37.0
31-40
28
22.0
41-50
24
18.9
51-60
18
14.2
61
10
7.9
Married
79
62.2
Single-widowed
48
37.8
Literate
26
20.5
Primary school
66
52.0
35
27.5
Yes
37
29.1
No
90
70.9
Spouse
31
24.4
Motherfather
38
29.9
Daughter
15
11.8
Son
15
11.8
Sibling
13
10.2
Other
15
11.8
3-12 months
89
70.1
13-24 months
7.1
29
22.8
Yes
32
54.3
No
26
20.5
Partially
69
25.2
Results
Descriptive data of family caregivers are presented in
Table 1. With regard to the descriptive characteristics of
the family caregivers, 52.8% were female, 37% were aged
between 18 and 30 years, 62.2% were married and 70.9%
were unemployed, 29.9% were taking care of their parents
and 70.1% had been carers for 3-12 months. And 54.3%
were informed of the patients care requirements and 94.5%
had not received training about the care requirements of
the patient, 77.2% provided patients with constant care and
17.3% of caregivers had a chronic disease [Table 1].
The coping attitude used most frequently by family
caregivers was active planning (28.145.98), and the least
commonly used coping attitude was avoidance isolation
(biochemical) (3.313.20). With regard to the attitude
of coping with stress for family caregivers, results show
that they tend to choose effective coping methods [active
planning (28.145.98), acceptance cognitive restructuring
(17.514.25), seeking external aid (23.055.83) and
religious asylum (17.524.18)] [Table 2].
There was no significant statistical difference between the
coping attitude depending on the descriptive characteristics
of family caregivers (P>0.05) (data not shown in table).
Discussion
This study analyzed the coping attitude of cancer patient
family caregivers in coping with stress they experience while
caring for the patients. The study concluded that family
caregivers mainly preferred the effective coping attitude
(active planning, acceptance cognitive restructuring, seeking
external aid and religious asylum), although some did
choose the ineffective coping attitude [avoidance isolation
(emotional actual) and avoidance isolation (biochemical)].
Caring is an experience that is perceived by caring
Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing Apr-Jun 2014 Vol 1 Issue 1
Marital status
Education status
Employed
Duration of care
5.5
No
120
94.5
Always
94
77.2
Mostly
29
22.8
22
17.3
No
105
82.7
Total
127
100
MeanSD
Min-max scores
Active planning
28.145.98
0-40
23.055.83
0-36
Religious asylum
17.524.18
0-24
13.985.24
0-28
3.313.20
0-16
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Conclusion
In Turkey, family caregivers have an important place in the
health care system. They take on the majority of the care
responsibility both at the hospital and at home. Therefore,
it is important to develop effective coping attitude types in
order for the caring period to be perceived positively by both
the patient and the carer. In this study, the majority of the
caregivers displayed effect coping attitude types; however,
there were still caregivers who displayed ineffective coping
attitudes. Therefore, it is important to support the effective
coping attitudes of caregivers and intervene in order to
change the ineffective coping attitudes. Caregiving may lead
to positive matters such as increased intimacy and affection,
personal development, improved close relationships,
satisfaction, social support by other individuals, self-respect,
as well as physical, psychological, emotional, social and
economic problems.
References
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How to cite this article: Karabulutlu EY. Coping with stress of family
caregivers of cancer patients in Turkey. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs 2014;1:55-60.
Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None declared.