Chronicles of informal caregiving in cancer: using ‘The Cancer Family Caregiving Experience’ model as an explanatory framework

• Published in: Supportive care in cancer 2014-02, Vol.22 (2), p.435-444
• Main Authors: Stamataki, Z., Ellis, J. E., Costello, J., Fielding, J., Burns, M., Molassiotis, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Cancer; Caregivers; Caregivers - psychology; Families & family life; Female; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Neoplasms - psychology; Neoplasms - therapy; Nursing; Nursing Research; Oncology; Original Article; Pain Medicine; Palliative Care - methods; Palliative Care - psychology; Qualitative Research; Rehabilitation Medicine; Stress, Psychological - etiology; Stress, Psychological - psychology
• ISSN: 0941-4355; 1433-7339
• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-013-1994-1

Background Cancer caregiving has emerged as a dominant focus of research in recent years. A striking feature of this vast amount of literature is that it is static, examining certain points of the cancer trajectory, mostly the diagnosis and palliative care. Only The Cancer Caregiving Experience Model conceptualised the caregiving experience and explored the conceptual implications of cancer family caregiving research. Aim The data from this paper aim to empirically support the Cancer Caregiving Experience model, by exploring the cancer caregiving experience longitudinally. Methods Semi-structured interviews with 53 caregivers were carried out at patient’s diagnosis (T1), 3 months (T2), 6 months (T3) and 12 months (T4) post diagnosis. Results Analysis of 139 interviews generated four themes that reflected a complex and dynamic process. The themes that mapped those of the model were “Primary stressors”, “Secondary stressors”, “Appraisal”, “Cognitive-Behavioural responses” and “Health and Well Being”. Conclusions The study adds empirical support to The Cancer Caregiving Experience Model and confirms that different primary and secondary stressors influence how the caregivers perceive the caregiving demands, the coping mechanisms they employ and their health and well being during the cancer trajectory. Access to support services should be offered to all the caregivers from as early as the diagnosis period and take into account their specific needs.