Investigation of the experiences of family members caring for advanced cancer patients in the scope of the family care experience model in cancer: An embedded mixed method research

This study carried out with the cancer family caregiving experience model, aimed to examine the stressors and contextual factors affecting the quality of life of the family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer, to address their caregiving experiences. Embedded mixed-method research was carried out at Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital between September 2020 and July 2021. 125 patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers were included in the quantitative phase of the study; 21 caregiver family members were included in the qualitative phase. The quantitative data analysis was carried out using SPSS 25.0 statistical program, and qualitative data was carried out using Collaizi's seven-step descriptive analysis approach. Quality of life determining as the dependent variable was evaluated with the Caregivers of Cancer Caregivers (CQOLC). Symptom, care dependency, and preparedness to care level, which are variables related to the stress process in the cancer family caregiving experience model, had a direct effect on the CQOLC scores of family caregivers (p<0.001). Family members of patients with high symptom severity and care dependency and family members with preparedness to care level had lower CQOLC scores. Among the contextual factors, income level, employment status, and daily caregiving duration had a direct effect on the CQOLC scores of family caregivers (p<0.05). Four themes emerged from the qualitative interviews: understanding the dynamics of the caregiving process, losing control of life during the caregiving process, limiting socio-economic freedom in the caregiving process, and an effort to hold on to life during the caregiving process. All healthcare professionals should not forget that the quality of life of their family caregivers should be evaluated, and training programs for family members should be structured.