Experiences of Family Caregivers Providing Home Care to Older Patients With Cancer: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background Older patients with cancer receive anticancer therapy in outpatient settings, and care-related issues may occur after discharge, which often requires family caregivers (FCs) to play a significant role in providing cancer care at home. However, relatively few studies have been focused on exploring the care experiences of these FCs. Purpose The aim of this study was to explore the care experiences of FCs caring for older family members with cancer at home. Methods A qualitative study design and in-depth individual interviews were used to explore the at-home care experiences of FCs of older patients with cancer. The research was conducted in chemotherapy outpatient settings of a medical center in northern Taiwan. Content analysis was used to analyze data. The analyses focused on first extracting meaningful units from the text and then inducting categories from these units and determining the major themes. Results Twenty FCs were interviewed. The three themes identified included (a) increased information needs and challenges in diet preparation and treatment decision making, (b) personal and patient-induced emotional stress, and (c) life rebalancing through the care experience. Conclusions/Implications for Practice The findings highlight the educational requirements, especially related to meeting personal dietary needs and obtaining psychological support, for FCs caring for older patients with cancer to help them rebalance their life.