Purpose The care of cancer patients involves collaboration among health care professionals, patients, and family caregivers. As health care has evolved, more complex and challenging care is provided in the home, usually with the support of family members or friends. The aim of the study was to examine perceived needs regarding the psychosocial tasks of caregiving as reported by patients and caregivers. We also evaluated the association of demographic and clinical variables with self-reported caregiving needs. Methods Convenience samples of 100 cancer patients and 100 family caregivers were recruited in outpatient medical and radiation oncology waiting areas - the patients and caregivers were not matched dyads. Both groups completed a survey about their perceptions of caregiving tasks, including how difficult the tasks were for them to do. Demographic information was also provided by participants. Results Caregivers reported providing more help in dealing with feelings than patients endorsed needing. Caregivers were also more likely than patients to report the psychosocial aspects of caregiving were more difficult for them. Lastly, caregivers were more likely to report helping with logistical issues in comparison with patients expressing this need. Race, length of time since diagnosis, and age were associated with patients’ expressed needs, while only number of hours spent providing care was associated with the caregivers’ reporting of care activities. Conclusions Our results suggest that patients may underestimate how difficult caregivers perceive the psychosocial aspects of caregiving to be. Also, it seems that caregivers tend to take on the psychosocial aspects of caregiving, although patients don’t tend to report this need. Caregiving needs were only minimally associated with demographic variables, as was participation in caregiving tasks.

Family caregiving involves the provision of care by family members and self-care by patients, with the two groups participating together in illness-related care. A convenience sample of 100 patients and 100 unrelated family caregivers were surveyed to examine their perceptions of the caregiving skills they perform, the difficulty they experience in performing certain skills, and their associated learning needs. Descriptive analysis of data revealed differences in the type of activities patients and caregivers perform, the perceived difficulty of caregiving tasks, and their need for assistance. Uncertainty about disease stage poses important implications for educators.