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Journal of Global Awareness

Journal of Global Awareness

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Cancer cases have been on the increase globally, and this has led to economic burden on the affected households. One way of reducing the cost of care is through home-based care by informal palliative caregivers who include family members, friends, and other people assigned by the family members to take care of the patient. The objectives of this study were to assess the status of the mental wellbeing of palliative caregivers of cancer patients; to examine the relationship between the ability of the patient to cope with cancer diagnosis and the mental wellbeing of the caregiver; and to investigate the coping mechanisms employed by informal palliative caregivers to help them maintain their mental wellbeing. The theoretical framework employed in the study was ecological system theory. The study used a survey research design where the target population was informal palliative caregivers to cancer patients. A sample size of 158 participants was achieved through the snowballing sampling technique. Data was collected through the administration of questionnaires and was analyzed using R software. The study found that most caregivers had signs of depression, experienced negative emotional health, and poor physical health. Caregivers employed various coping mechanisms such as learning new skills, spiritual nourishment, being optimistic, good nutrition, social support systems, and recreational activities. The study recommends the inclusion of informal palliative caregivers in patients’ management, training programs for informal palliative caregivers, and the incorporation of coping mechanisms for the caregivers.

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