The Burden of Care and Perceived Social Support Level of Family Members Caring for Cancer Patients

Abstract

Cancer is a terminal and chronic disease with a pathogenesis that can affect other systemic functions affecting the patient’s health. During the course of diagnosis and treatment, families and loved ones are emotionally affected in different ways. The burden of care imposed on family members who assume the role of caregivers for cancer patients has garnered increasing interest and concern. This study provides an overview of the care burden and perceived social support level of family members caring for cancer patients, focusing on key aspects such as symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, nursing interventions, counseling, and nursing practice. Recognizing the significance of social support, healthcare professionals have developed nursing interventions to meet the unique requirements of family caregivers. Out of the articles, 168 publications met the inclusion criteria and were selected for inclusion in this review. Only 10 of these publications provided significant contributions to the overall findings and were deemed to be particularly informative. In conclusion, the care burden and perceived level of social support experienced by family members caring for cancer patients have significant implications for both caregivers and patients. Healthcare professionals can contribute to improving the well-being of family caregivers and optimizing patient care by recognizing the challenges encountered by caregivers, implementing appropriate nursing interventions, providing counseling support, and advancing nursing education.