Family perceptions of caregivers of cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction: Worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) registers cancer as the second cause of death, being this determined as a public health problem, in Latin America and specifically in Ecuador. Objective: to characterize the caregivers of patients in a public hospital from the perspective of their relatives and identify key factors that drive their behavior and support behavior. Method: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out at the “Dr. Julio Enrique Paredes C.” SOLCA Oncology Hospital in the city of Ambato, belonging to the country of Ecuador in the period of September and October 2023. Results: being female caregivers between the ages of 40 and 49 years who are in charge of providing care to their relatives with oncological diseases, it should be noted that there is a high percentage of male caregivers in the range of 60 to 65 years who provide care to these patients despite their age and health status. Conclusions: This study, like other research, has shown that, from the experience of these caregivers, there is a burden focused on physical exhaustion, a mental burden related to feelings of loss of self-esteem, hopelessness, discouragement, sadness and loneliness, and a social burden in the face of the female role in care and the alteration of family dynamics.