KACMAZ, Uzman Hemsire Nesiba Istanbul Universitesi - istanbul Tip Fakultesi - Psikiyatri Anabilim Dali Konsultasyon Liyezon Psikiyatrisi BD, Turkey , KOCAMAN YILDIRIM, Nazmiye Istanbul Universitesiistanbul - Tip Fakultesi - Psikiyatri Anabilim Dali Konsultasyon Liyezon Psikiyatrisi BD, Turkey , OZKAN, Mine Istanbul Universitesiistanbul - Tip Fakultesi - Psikiyatri Anabilim Dali Konsultasyon Liyezon Psikiyatrisi BD, Turkey

CANCER PATIENTS RELATIVES/ CAREGIVERS: THEIR EXPERIENCES AND NEEDS

37268

Cancer, one of the life-threatening and chronic diseases, directly or indirectly affects a largenumber of people. An increase in the number of patients diagnosed with cancer also leads to an increase in the number of people who provide care to these patients. Having a family member diagnosed with cancer alters the lives of all people in the family. Anxieties and despair experienced with the patient member of the family both create a huge emotional burden and encumber patients relatives with additional and unusual roles and responsibilities. Patients relatives/caregivers are defined as the backbone of cancer healthcare process in both health and social services all over the world.Caregivers have a variety of responsibilities of cancer-related health care that includes a time span starting with the diagnosis and ending with termination of life. While taking part in all dimensions of health care such as physical, emotional, social, spiritual and financial, they try to manage it with little knowledge. Relatives of the patient are supposed to simultaneously assist the patient and meet their own needs in a changing lifestyle. Faced with demands exceeding their own resources in this period, caregivers might experience tension, feeling of being overloaded as well as various physical and mental disorders. Challenges that caregivers encounter might have a negative impact on patients well-being as well. It is known that the needs of patients relatives/caregivers who struggle with these challenges are not addressed in the present healthcare system and there is a lack of studies in literature. The aim of this compilation is to call attention to these people who play an indispensable role in all of the stages of cancer, yet who are neglected, give information about their needs and emphasize the importance of evaluating caregivers needs systematically.

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Cancer , caregiver , needs , unmet need.

Journal Of Ege University Nursing Faculty

112