ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Family caregivers who provide care for cancer patients may have to cope with a variety of physical, social, and economic problems during the caregiving process. A sense of hopelessness seems to lead to increasingly negative evaluations of new situations and less effective coping strategies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between hopelessness and the coping strategies of the family caregivers of oncology patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design study was carried out in the adult oncology unit and outpatient radiation oncology units of a university hospital in Turkey. The research sample was composed of 110 family caregivers. A sociodemographic data form, the Coping Stress Strategies Scale, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale were used in face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between hopelessness and coping strategies. There was a positive correlation between hopelessness and the helpless approaches, which constitute a part of the emotion-focused coping strategies (r = 0.254, P < .01). There was a negative correlation between hopelessness and problem-focused coping strategies (optimistic approach and seeking social support) (r = -0.484, P < .01; r = -0.190, P < .05). CONCLUSION: In our study, we found that when the hopes of family caregivers are raised, they may adopt a more optimistic approach, and seek more social support, and display more effective coping strategies. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study could be used to help develop nursing interventions and efficient coping strategies. It suggests how oncology nurses may support family caregivers to increase their level of hope.
