Psychological Distress among Family Caregivers of Cancer Patient

Cancer is the one of the leading cause of death, is a disorder in which differentiated body cells undergo changes at molecular level resulting in the loss of the normal cell regulation, characteristics and functions. Today, the millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. Cancer patients need care and assistance from their family members, friends, as well as medical personnel. The study was aimed to assess the psychological distress among family caregiver of cancer patients. A descriptive cross sectional design with quantitative approach was undertaken on 300 caregivers of cancer patients who were admitted in the Cancer Research Institute Data were collected by using convenient sampling from 300 caregivers of cancer patients who were admitted in the cancer research institute by using convenient sampling. Data were collected by using GHQ (G-H-Q)questionnaire, Determinants of psychological distress (from DT) Sociodemographic data. GHQ-12(general health questionnaire), Determinants of psychological distress (from DT) tools. The result of the study shows that 30% of caregivers was suffering from severe psychological distress. 45% of care giver having the evidence of stress. There was statistical significant at the level of p=0.05. there was association between the psychological distress and socio-demographic variables like number of children's in family, place of cancer, time since diagnosis of cancer, caregivers not provided care before. There was also statistical significant association between determinants and psychological distress with Emotional problem at the level p<0.05. The investigator observed that the caregivers of cancer patients were having psychological distress and the caregivers who were having emotional problems they are having more psychological distress.