The effect of cancer-related stigma perceptions on the caregiver burden of relatives of patients receiving chemotherapy

This study is a descriptive study conducted to determine the effect of cancer-related stigma perceptions on the caregiving burden of relatives of patients receiving chemotherapy. The population of this study consists of the relatives of the patients who received chemotherapy in the Outpatient Day Treatment Unit of Başkent University Hospital and was completed with 270 patients' relatives. The data of the study were collected using the "Patient Relatives Identification Form", "Cancer Stigma Scale (CASS-T)" and "Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS)". SPSS Windows 25 package program was used in the analysis of the research data. The Pearson Correlation coefficient was used to examine the difference between the groups using the Tukey Test, one of the Post-Hoc Tests, and the relationship between the variables. According to the results of the study, the mean CASS-T total score of the relatives of the patients was found to be 71.4±17.6 (min:25-max:103). From the mean scores of the CASS-T subgroups of the relatives of the patients who participated in the study; The mean nonconformity score was 17.1±4.55, the mean seriousness score was 16.2±6.00, the mean avoidance score was 12.7±5.11, the mean score for political opposition was 7.22±4.57, the mean score for personal responsibility was 10.6±4.11, the mean score for financial discrimination was 7.69±3.56. There was no significant difference between the mean CASS-T scores of the relatives of the patients, gender, marital status, family structure and the number of children; It was determined that there was a significant difference between the CASS-T score of the relatives of the patients and their education levels according to the subgroups of inappropriateness, seriousness, avoidance, political opposition, personal responsibility, the degree of closeness of the patients, occupation, economic status, and previous encounters. The mean score of ZBVYO of the relatives of the patients who participated in the study was found to be 39.2±15.9 (min:0-max:75). While there is a significant difference between the mean ZCBS scores of the relatives of the patients and their age groups, places of residence, employment, education and economic status, occupation, duration of care, and the sufficiency of the people who help during care; There was no significant difference between gender, marital status, having a child, and helping during caregiving. There is a moderately significant positive correlation between CASS-T scores and ZCBS scores. In the regression analysis, it was found that the education level of the patient's relatives, the frequency of caregiving, and the unwillingness to participate in the social environment with their patients had an increasing effect on the perception of cancer stigma. It has been found that education and economic status, occupation, family structure, degree of closeness to the patient, frequency of caregiving affect the burden of caregiving of the relatives of the patients. As a result, it was determined that the stigma perception of the relatives of the patients was moderate and the burden of care was light. In line with these results, it is recommended to create trainings and social support groups to reduce the stigma perception of patients' relatives.