Cancer in Western Australian Indian families: concerns and coping strategies

Abstract

Discussion with families of Indian clients with cancer living in Western Australia and their anecdotal reports of stress related to care lead to the development of this descriptive, qualitative study. In particular, the study addresses the concerns of Western Australian families of Indian clients with cancer and the coping strategies they employed. Six family members participated in face-to-face interviews. Content analysis revealed a four-phase process that family members described in response to the cancer diagnosis: initial reactions, immediate concerns, ongoing concerns, and coping strategies used. Culturally-specific observations and recommendations are offered for nursing practice and further research.

The Caregiving Journey for Family Members of Relatives With Cancer

“…The degree of influence culture has on family members' ability to adapt to caring for a loved one with cancer is very difficult to determine. However, the cultural beliefs of some people may hinder their willingness to actively seek professional help and resultant support services (Sellappah et al, 2001). Weinland (2009) found that most African American men acting as caregivers refused the entry of formal support services into their homes because of financial or privacy concerns.…”

“…Similarly, Costantini, Beccaro, Merlo, and the ISDOC Study Group (2005) concluded that the primary support person of patients of Italian descent was predominantly a child or spouse, with very few caregivers or patients accepting or seeking any kind of support outside the family. In a small study by Sellappah et al (2001), six Western Australian Indian families indicated that the provision of cancer care in the home environment allowed cultural rituals to be maintained with ease within the family when compared to a hospital setting.…”

“…The support services of a hospice were vital to four family caregivers in Sellappah et al (2001). One participant reported that hospice nurses provided therapeutic contact and were very sensitive toward the family's needs.…”

“…Many individualized strategies exist to support caregivers. Some studies have mentioned the value to a caregiver of a support person, such as a family member or friend, who provided sporadic relief from caregiving duties as well as psychological support to both the patient and the caregiver (Perreault et al, 2004;Sellappah et al, 2001). Several caregivers admitted that the role of the support person was imperative to their ability to maintain a positive attitude (Houldin, 2007).…”

What does the informal caregiver of a terminally ill cancer patient need? A study from a cancer centre

“…[5] The literature shows that little is known about Indian family member's experiences of being caregivers, as well as their expectations of the palliative care services. [6]…”