article · Psycho-Oncology
This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of caregivers for terminally ill cancer patients in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with ten caregivers at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute. The findings revealed three main themes: the challenges faced by caregivers, the availability of social support, and the coping strategies employed. Caregivers reported physical exhaustion, burnout, emotional distress, and reduced social interaction. They relied on support from family members, their community, and religious groups. Individual coping mechanisms included self-distraction, acquiring practical skills, and following professional advice. The study concludes that caregivers play a fundamental role but face significant neglected physical, psychological, and social challenges.
Understanding the experiences of caregivers for terminally ill cancer patients is essential for developing more compassionate and effective healthcare systems. Recognising their challenges and support needs can lead to better support programmes, improving both caregiver well-being and the quality of patient care.
The abstract highlights a clear need for structured support for caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients. This research could inform the development of targeted support programmes, training modules for healthcare professionals, or community-based interventions aimed at alleviating caregiver burden. Such initiatives would be applied at the health system or community level, representing an early-stage programme development opportunity rather than a direct commercial product.
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BACKGROUND: Caregivers face numerous physical and emotional challenges when providing care to people suffering from life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. The study aimed to explore caregivers' experiences in providing care for terminally ill cancer patients in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHOD: A phenomenological study design was conducted among caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients at Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI). A purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 10 participants. An in-depth interview method was used to collect the data. A semi-structured interview guide with an audio recorder was used to collect the information from the participants. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic analysis approach. FINDINGS: The three themes were challenges in caring for patients, availability of social support, and coping strategies. Physical exhaustion and burnout, emotional distress and reduced social interaction were the challenges in caring for patients described by participants during the caring process. Family member support, community support and religious support were the available support systems that facilitated caregivers to care for the patients. However, adopting self-distraction towards patient behaviour, acquiring and using practical skills and following professional guidance were the individual coping strategies used by participants in caring for terminally ill cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Study findings highlight the fundamental role of caregivers in the care, and illuminate the neglected physical, psychological and social challenges they face amidst health system tensions and conflicting roles. The needs of caregivers should be embedded within cancer care, prevention and control programs, particularly in low-resource settings.
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DOI: 10.1002/pon.70281
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