UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: Caring for cancer outpatients can impose considerable demands and is a stressful experience that can dramatically affect family caregivers' lives. The family caregivers continuingly use efforts in process of coping to reduce their stress. This study was to identify the use of coping strategies of family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

Methods: Fifty family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer undergoing radiation therapy, in the university hospital of Southern Thailand, completed the Jalowiec Coping Scale.

Results: Family caregivers used different coping strategies. Nine coping methods most frequently used by these caregivers were: 1) learning more about the problems, 2) thinking various ways to solve the problems, 3) setting specific goals, 4) finding the meanings of caregiving experience, 5) talking the problems over the others who have similar experiences, 6) worrying, 7) maintaining hope, 8) accepting the situation it is, and 9) praying. This finding suggests the health care professionals to explore the meaning of caregiving experience and encourage caregivers' hope. Social and professional support also are need for enhancing the effective coping of family caregivers to decrease their stress.