Neslihan Duman Kırmacı, Zeliha Koç
Higher supportive care needs were significantly associated with poorer physical and mental quality of life, whereas higher perceived social support was significantly associated with better quality of life. Supportive care needs demonstrated negative correlations with both physical and mental health-related quality of life, while perceived social support demonstrated positive correlations with these outcomes (all p < .05).
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the associations among supportive care needs, perceived social support, and quality of life among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer and explored caregivers' lived experiences of the caregiving process.
METHODS: A convergent mixed-methods study was conducted at a university oncology center in Türkiye. Quantitative data were collected from 328 family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer using the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Caregivers (SCNS-C), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the SF-12 Health Survey. Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 22 caregivers and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological approach.
RESULTS: Higher supportive care needs were significantly associated with poorer physical and mental quality of life, whereas higher perceived social support was significantly associated with better quality of life. Supportive care needs demonstrated negative correlations with both physical and mental health-related quality of life, while perceived social support demonstrated positive correlations with these outcomes (all p < .05).
QUALITATIVE FINDINGS GENERATED TWO OVERARCHING THEMES: Impacts of the Caregiving Process and Emotional and Psychological Dimensions of Caregiving. Caregivers described disruptions in family and social life, financial strain, unmet support needs, emotional distress, reliance on family and community support, religious coping, and fluctuating feelings of hope and despair.
SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The findings suggest that supportive care needs and perceived social support are associated with caregiver well-being. Integrating caregiver assessment, psychosocial support, and interventions into palliative care services may help address unmet needs and improve quality of life among caregivers of advanced cancer patients.