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<p>Informal caregivers (ICs) frequently face stressful events and have many caregiving responsibilities. Further, they have their basic requirements and continuously face comprehensive care needs (CCN) and unmet needs (UNs) in addition to meeting the needs of patients with cancer. This study aimed to describe the CCNs among the ICs of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care at the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. This cross-sectional study incorporated 422 ICs using a convenient sampling technique; an interviewer-administered questionnaire collected information on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. A 35-item validated Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool (CNAT-ICs) was used to assess the unmet CCNs (UCCNs) of seven domains. A five-point Likert scale was used (1 = no need to 5 = high need) for scoring (possible range 35–175). Higher scores indicated higher UNs. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the sample, 51.4% were female. The mean (± SD) age of the ICs was 43.13 (± 14.92) years. ICs’ mean (± SD) total UCCNs was 92.54 ± 29.48. ICs had the most need in the healthcare staff/nurses’ support needs and information domain (26.20 ± 10.44), followed by social and family support (17.07 ± 7.27), psychological (15.52 ± 7.99), hospital facilities/ service (13.22 ± 5.34), medical officers’ support (9.46 ± 4.14), spiritual/Religious support (5.89 ± 2.80), and physical/practical (5.11 ± 2.29), respectively. Several variables of ICs, such as working status, financial and emotional strain, care levels, self-reported general health, and perceived social and family/friends support, were reported as significant factors. These ICs reported relatively lower overall UCCNs, while the study showed the UNs of ICs were high in the healthcare staff/nurses’ support and information, and essential to consider associated caregiver and caregiving-related variables to minimize UCCNs. The results would help the health authorities understand the current status of UCCNs among ICs from different socio-economic backgrounds in Sri Lanka, recommending future support and involvement with family members in patient care, and especially providing information.</p>

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Comprehensive care needs among informal cancer caregivers of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care: a cross-sectional study

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月27日

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  • Eranthi Weeratunga,
  • Sampatha Goonewardena,
  • Lalitha Meegoda

摘要

Informal caregivers (ICs) frequently face stressful events and have many caregiving responsibilities. Further, they have their basic requirements and continuously face comprehensive care needs (CCN) and unmet needs (UNs) in addition to meeting the needs of patients with cancer. This study aimed to describe the CCNs among the ICs of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care at the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. This cross-sectional study incorporated 422 ICs using a convenient sampling technique; an interviewer-administered questionnaire collected information on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. A 35-item validated Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool (CNAT-ICs) was used to assess the unmet CCNs (UCCNs) of seven domains. A five-point Likert scale was used (1 = no need to 5 = high need) for scoring (possible range 35–175). Higher scores indicated higher UNs. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the sample, 51.4% were female. The mean (± SD) age of the ICs was 43.13 (± 14.92) years. ICs’ mean (± SD) total UCCNs was 92.54 ± 29.48. ICs had the most need in the healthcare staff/nurses’ support needs and information domain (26.20 ± 10.44), followed by social and family support (17.07 ± 7.27), psychological (15.52 ± 7.99), hospital facilities/ service (13.22 ± 5.34), medical officers’ support (9.46 ± 4.14), spiritual/Religious support (5.89 ± 2.80), and physical/practical (5.11 ± 2.29), respectively. Several variables of ICs, such as working status, financial and emotional strain, care levels, self-reported general health, and perceived social and family/friends support, were reported as significant factors. These ICs reported relatively lower overall UCCNs, while the study showed the UNs of ICs were high in the healthcare staff/nurses’ support and information, and essential to consider associated caregiver and caregiving-related variables to minimize UCCNs. The results would help the health authorities understand the current status of UCCNs among ICs from different socio-economic backgrounds in Sri Lanka, recommending future support and involvement with family members in patient care, and especially providing information.