Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of the Quality of Life of Caregivers in Gynecological Cancer Patients

  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing the general quality of life and the quality-of-life subdimensions of family members caring for gynecological cancer patients. This descriptive study was conducted at a training and research hospital in Turkey. A total of 168 caregivers who were family members were included in the study sample. The data collection form and the Caregiver Quality-of-Life Index Cancer Scale were used to collect data. The mean age of family caregivers was 42.6 ± 12.30 and 81 % were female. The caregivers had the most problem with coping with the depressive symptoms and the nausea of the patient and with medication use for the patient. Information on care was requested by 35.7 %, whereas 70 % of this group felt they needed information on every subject regarding disease and its treatment. It is also found that although some factors did not influence the general quality of life of caregivers, they did have a negative effect on various areas such as burden, disruptiveness, positive adaptation, and financial concerns. Health care professions should educate patients and their caregivers who are distant relatives of patient or providing care for older patients especially on medical drug usage after discharge and management of symptoms such as nausea.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Potter P, Deshields T, Kuhrik M et al (2010) An analysis of educational and learning needs of cancer patients and unrelated family caregivers. J Cancer Educ 25:538–542

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Park B, Kim SY, Shin JY et al (2013) Prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression among family caregivers of cancer patients: a nationwide survey of patient–family caregiver dyads in Korea. Support Care Cancer 21(10):2799–2807

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Akyuz A, Guvenc G, Ustunsoz A, Kaya T (2008) Living with gynecologic cancer: experience of women and their partners. J Nurs Scholarsh 40(3):241–247

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Given BA, Sherwood P, Given CW (2011) Support for caregivers of cancer patients: transition after active treatment. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 20(10):2015–2021

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Yeh PM, Wierenga ME, Yuan SC (2009) Influences of psychological well-being, quality of caregiver-patient relationship, and family support on the health of family caregivers for cancer patients in Taiwan. Asian Nurs Res 3(4):154–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Francis LE, Worthington J, Kypriotakis G, Rose JH (2010) Relationship quality and burden among caregivers for late-stage cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 18:1429–1436

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Papadopoulos A, Vrettos I, Kamposioras K, Anagnostopoulos F, Giannopoulos G, Pectasides D, Niakas D, Economopoulos T (2011) Impact of cancer patients’ disease awareness on their family members’ health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional survey. Psychooncology 20:294–301

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Williams A-L, Mccorkle R (2011) Cancer family caregivers during the palliative, hospice, and bereavement phases: a review of the descriptive psychosocial literatüre. Palliat Support Care 9:315–325

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Given BA, Given CW, Sherwood P (2012) The challenge of quality cancer care for family caregivers. Semin Oncol Nurs 28(4):205–212

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Bektas HA, Ozer ZC (2009) Reliability and validity of the caregiver quality of life index-cancer (CQOLC) scale in Turkish cancer caregivers. J Clin Nurs 18:3003–3012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Grova EK, Fossa SD, Sørebøc Ø, Dahl AA (2006) Primary caregivers of cancer patients in the palliative phase: a path analysis of variables influencing their burden. Soc Sci Med 63:2429–2439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Hacialioglu N, Özer N, Yilmaz Karabulutlu E et al (2010) The quality of life of family caregivers of cancer patients in the East of Turkey. Eur J Oncol Nurs 14:211–217

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Khanna D, Tsevat J (2007) Health-related quality of life—an introduction. Am J Manag Care 13(9):S218–S223

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Yeşilbalkan OU, Ozkütük N, Ardahan M (2010) Comparision quality of life of Turkish cancer patients and their family caregivers. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 11:1575–1579

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Weitzner MA, McMillan SC, Jacobsen PB (1999) Family caregiver quality of life: differences between curative and palliative cancer treatment settings. Pain Symptom Manag 17(6):418–427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gözüm S, Akçay D (2005) Response to the needs of Turkish chemotherapy patients and their families. Cancer Nurs 2(6):469–475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Salani R (2013) Survivorship planning in gynecologic cancer patients. Gynecol Oncol 130(2):389–397

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Costanzoa ES, Lutgendorfa SK, Rothrockb NE, Anderson B (2006) Coping and quality of life among women extensively treated for gynecologic cancer. Psychooncology 15:132–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Deshields TL, Rihanek A, Potter P, Zhang Q, Kuhrik M, Kuhrik N, O’Neill J (2012) Psychosocial aspects of caregiving: perceptions of cancer patients and family caregivers. Support Care Cancer 20:349–356

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Northouse LL, Katapodi MC, Schafenacker AM, Weiss D (2012) The impact of caregiving on the psychological well-being of family caregivers and cancer patients. Semin Oncol Nurs 28(4):236–245

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Alptekin S, Gönuüllü G, Yücel İ, Yarış F (2010) Characteristics and quality of life analysis of caregivers of cancer patients. Med Oncol 27:607–617

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Docherty A, Owens A, Asadi-Lari M et al (2008) Knowledge and information needs of informal caregivers in palliative care: a qualitative systematic review. Palliat Med 22:153

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Glajchen M (2012) Physical well-being of oncology caregivers: an important quality-of-life domain. Semin Oncol Nurs 28(4):226–235

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Lin WC, Tsao C-J (2004) Information needs of family caregivers of terminal cancer patients in Taiwan. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 21:438–444

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Beaver K, Witham G (2007) Information needs of the informal carers of women treated for breast cancer. Eur J Oncol Nurs 11:16–25

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Fukui S (2004) Information needs and the related variables of Japanese family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients. Nurs Health Sci 6:29–36

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Awadalla AW, Ohaeri JU, Gholoum A et al (2007) Factors associated with quality of life of outpatients with breast cancer and gynecologic cancers and their family caregivers: a controlled study. BMC Cancer 7:102

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wadhwa D, Burman D, Swami N et al (2013) Quality of life and mental health in caregivers of outpatients with advanced cancer. Psychooncology 22:403–410

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Grunfeld E, Coyle D, Whelan T et al (2004) Family caregiver burden: results of a longitudinal study of breast cancer patients and their principal caregivers. CMAJ 170(12):1795–1801

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Girgis A, Lambert S, Johnson C, Waller A, Currow D (2013) Physical, psychosocial, relationship, and economic burden of caring for people with cancer: a review. J Oncol Pract 9(4):197–202

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Papastavrou E, Charalambous A, Tsangari H (2009) Exploring the other side of cancer care: the informal caregiver. Eur J Oncol Nurs 13:128–136

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding Statement

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of Interest

No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Memnun Seven & Aygül Akyüz

  2. Koç Universitesi Hemşirelik Yüksek Okulu, Güzelbahçe sokak no:20, Nişantaşı, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey

    Memnun Seven

  3. Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Sakine Yılmaz

  4. School of Nursing,, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Eda Şahin

Authors
  1. Memnun Seven
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sakine Yılmaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eda Şahin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Aygül Akyüz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Memnun Seven.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Seven, M., Yılmaz, S., Şahin, E. et al. Evaluation of the Quality of Life of Caregivers in Gynecological Cancer Patients. J Canc Educ 29, 325–332 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0606-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0606-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation