Unmet needs, care burden, anxiety, depression levels of caregivers that give care to patients who take chemotherapy

This study aimed to determine the unmeet needs, care burden, anxiety and depression levels of caregivers that give care to patients who take chemotherapy. The population of the study consisted of the caregivers of patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy in Hacettepe University Oncology Hospital Day Treatment Unit. The sample of the study consisted of 120 caregivers of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Data were collected using "Patient Descriptive Information Form, Caregiver Descriptive Information Form", "Caregiver Supportive Care Needs Scale", "Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale" and "Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale". Data were analyzed with the Mann Whitney-U test, Kruskal Wallis, T-test, and Pearson correlation test. As a result of the research, the average score of unmeet needs of caregivers was 2.4 ± 0.39, average score of psychological and emotional needs was 2.6 ± 0.35, average score of health care and information requirements was 2.1 ± 0.64, average score of work and social needs was 2.9 ± 0.43, average score of communication and family needs was 2.9 ± 0.43. 1.7 ± 0.67. The caregiver burden scale average score of the caregivers was found to be 36.5 ± 14.00, mild to moderate, anxiety score was 9.4 ± 3.45 and depression score was 9.8 ± 4.05. It was found that there was a moderate positive relationship between unmmet needs of caregivers and care burden, anxiety and depression levels. According to the results of the study, studies on the needs of caregivers and the care burden of the support services to be provided for them in nursing care may be effective in preventing the development of anxiety and depression. Key words: Cancer, Caregiver, Unmet Needs, Care Burden, Anxiety, Nurse