The Needs of Family Members of Cancer Patients

Kim, Chun Gill

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nursing needs among family members of cancer patients. A total of 101 family members participated in this study by rating the importance of 30 need statements using a four-point Likert-type scale. And the subjects recorded their needs in open question. The ages of the subjects were 17-73 years, at five university hospitals in Seoul, ChunChon, and Kyung Ge Province. The data were collected from October, 1996 to July, 1997. The instrument used for this study was the Family Needs Scale (FNS), which were composed of six factors, developed by this researcher. Content validity of the instrument was established through a review of the statements by a professor majoring in nursing and reliability by calculation of Cronbach's alpha with data of the respondents. The values of Cronbach's alpha was 0.91. Analysis of data was done by means of the SAS program using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Stepwise multiple regression. The results were as follows : 1. The scores on FNS ranged from 75 to 120 with a mean of 99.04. Needs to be informed on the patient's condition, treatment and nursing intervention among six factors showed the highest score, but Needs to be supported emotionally were the lowest score in the families of cancer patients. It was shown from open questions in the questionnaire that Need for the use of understandable terms and Need for the explanation about the patients condition, treatment and prognosis were also viewed as important to family members. The most frequent needs of the cancer patients' families was 'proper implimentation of treatment and nursing intervention for patients'. Besides, a number of family members responded that "kindness" was one of the essential attitudes to nurses. 2. In the subjects' relationship to their patient, 47.5% were the sons and daughters, while 37.5% were the wives and the 40-49 year category than in any other category. There was a significant relationship between the needs of the family and educational level (F=3.26, P=0.025). Educational level accounted for 9% of the needs of the family, and the patient's diagnosis accounted for an additional 8% of the needs of the family. The findings in this investigation suggested that the greatest number of needs of cancer patients' families were needs to be informed about the patient's condition, treatment and prognosis. This study provides information which supports the concept of the family as the client. Because nurses must meet the challenge of family-oriented practice in cancer nursing.