Factors Influencing Burden among Family Caregivers of Elderly Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: This study was to identify factors influencing burden among family caregivers of elderly cancer patients. METHODS: The participants were 217 family caregivers who visited inpatient & outpatient clinics for elderly cancer patients at two general hospitals. Data were collected utilizing the Perceived Health Status Scale, Herth Hope Index Scale, Medical Outcome Study-Social Support Scale, and Caregiver Reaction Assessment Scale. RESULTS: The level of burden in the participants was moderate to high. There were significant correlations among perceived health status, hope, social support and burden. In multiple regression analyses, the most powerful predictor of burden in family caregivers was hope (36.0%). Overall, other caregivers, perceived economic status, caring time, gender, patients' confusion, tangible support, and perceived health status explained 61.0% of the variance of burden among the participants. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the importance of hope on burden in family caregivers. Thereby, integrative interventions are needed to enhance hope and social support and to promote caregivers' health status for alleviating-burden among family caregivers.

Effects of SBAR Program on Communication Clarity, Clinical Competence and Self-efficacy for Nurses in Cancer Hospitals / 재활간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendations(SBAR) program and to test the effects of the program on communication clarity, clinical competence, and self-efficacy for clinical nurses in cancer hospitals. METHODS: This study applied a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. There were 28 participants in the intervention group and 27 in the control group. SBAR program consisted of 4 parts and applied for 6 weeks in the intervention group. Data were analyzed with χ² test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and ANCOVA using the SPSS program. RESULTS: Communication clarity, clinical competence and self efficacy were significantly increased in the intervention group compared to those in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SBAR program may improve communication clarity, clinical competence and self-efficacy for clinical nurses in cancer hospitals. Therefore, it is required to actively take advantage of this program to improve communication clarity among medical staffs, clinical competence, and self-efficacy in clinical nursing practices.