Access Family Functioning and Related Factors from the Viewpoints of Male Cancer Patients

Introduction: Assessment of family functioning is essential priorto planning any family-based intervention for cancer patients. In anextensive literature review, any relevant studies related to thefunctions of Iranian families with cancer patient was not found.Therefore, the aims of present study were to investigate the function ofIranian families with a male cancer patient and its related factors frompatients’ perspectives. Methods: This was a descriptive- corelationalstudy in which 101 men with cancer admitted to Tabriz Shahid Ghazihospital were participated by convenience sampling method. Familyassessment device was used for data collection that investigates familyfunctioning in problem solving, communication, roles, affectiveinvolvement, affective responsiveness, behavior control, and generalfunctioning domains. Also, demographic characteristics were collected.The higher score indicates better family functioning. Data analyzed bySPSS software version13 using descriptive and inferential statistics isincluding independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearsoncorrelation tests. Results: Male participants in this study reportedinappropriate family functioning in all domains. The lower score was oncommunication and the higher score was on behavior control domain. Therewas significant statistical correlation between patients’ perception offamily functioning with the participants’ education level and job,while, there was no significant correlation between patients’ score offamily functioning with age, life situation, number of children, age ofsenior child, marriage duration and time passed since diagnosis.Conclusion: Inappropriate family functioning reported by the male cancerpatients indicates importance of providing consultation services forcancer patients and their family.