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Demands on Caring Relatives of Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Author(s) -
Baghi Mehran,
Wagenblast Jens,
Hambek Markus,
Radeloff Andreas,
Gstoettner Wolfgang,
Scherzed Agmal,
Spaenkuch Birgit,
Yuan Juping,
Hornung Stefan,
Strebhardt Klaus,
Knecht Rainald
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/mlg.0b013e318031d0b4
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , head and neck , head and neck cancer , quality of life (healthcare) , family medicine , nursing , surgery
Background : Relatives of cancer patients experience high levels of stress that influence the quality of life of these individuals. To investigate whether there is a necessity for simultaneous supportive care of patient relatives, we performed for the first time a study asking the closest relatives of head and neck cancer patients about their needs during and after the treatment to consider how to optimize the situation for such patient groups. Material and Methods : Patients' relatives were assessed using an anonymous self‐report questionnaire that was established in our department by expanding on a questionnaire for cancer patients' relatives from the psycho‐oncologic society in Switzerland. The evaluation was multidimensional, cancer specific, and relative based. Results : Relatives feel confronted themselves with cancer, although indirectly. The majority of the respondents were of the opinion that simultaneous psychological care of the patients and for the caring relatives would be helpful to cope with the situation. Conclusion : This study shows the significant impact of cancer on caring relatives of head and neck cancer patients. In our opinion, health services should become more aware of this potential to ensure that the needs of the involved patient relatives are met as well as those of the patients.