Investigation of psychosocial problems and coping skills of caregivers of cancer patients

Cancer is a long row to hoe that makes the patient dependent on care and support through diagnosis, treatment, care and continuous control processes. While going through these processes, the person has to get the care and support of his spouse, children, first and second degree relatives. The caregivers be confronted many physical, economic and psychosocial problems because they are directly exposed to the objective and emotional burden of the problems experienced by the patient. The purpose of this research; To provide information for the planning of social work practice by obtaining information about the problems of caregivers of cancer patients and the mechanisms they use to cope with these problems. In this study, in which the quantitative research method was used, the "general survey model" was used to reach a general opinion about caregivers. In the study, "correlational survey model" was used to determine the existence and degree of many variables that affect the problems experienced by caregivers and their coping styles. The data source of the research is in The caregivers of the patients receiving inpatient treatment at Ankara Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital. After the approval of Hacettepe University Ethics Committee, interview form a total of 322 caregivers through the Interview Form, Beck's Depression Scale and Stres Coping Styles Scale prepared for caregivers. As a result of the analysis of the research data; It has been observed that the socio-demographic characteristics of the caregiver and the factors related to the patient and the disease process are effective in the caregiver's depression ındex and the dealing ways different overcoming the stress. In the light of the findings obtained from the research, it was understood that to caregivers should be corporate service and should be supported economically, psychologically and socially. Within the scope of the results obtained, suggestions were made at different scales.