A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED ADVANCED COLORECTAL CANCER.

Colorectal carcinoma is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and women in the United States (ACS Facts & Figures, 2005). Research supports that colorectal cancer and its treatment significantly impacts caregivers. The study of caregiver's experiences caring for a loved one newly diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer is essentially undocumented in the research literature. The study purpose was to describe the caregiver's experience with, and adjustment to, their loved one's newly diagnosed advanced colorectal cancer. The research framework conceptualizes the illness within a relational model of stress, coping and management of dealing with life-threatening illness for patients and caregivers. Particular focus for this study is on ways caregivers experience and manage the intrusion of the illness on their lives. Fourteen caregivers of patients newly diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer participated in audio-recorded interviews. Participants described their experiences with their loved one's cancer. A broad-band question was asked, "What has it been like for you caring for your loved one who has just been diagnosed with colorectal cancer?" with specific prompts to invite elaboration. The interviews were transcribed and verified for accuracy. Inductive coding methods were used to identify open codes from the transcribed data which were then analyzed, compared, and grouped into categories. All categories were compared to maximize their unique and non-overlapping quality; this process involved constant comparative analysis. Consensus between two reviewers was reached on the categories and their definitions. Categories were reviewed in a final stage of analysis and organized into larger groupings called domains from which the core category was derived. The coded data yielded three domains: "Experiencing total disruption of my life", "Staying positive", and "Attempting to keep family and children's routines as normal as possible". The core category that explained study participants' care-giving experiences was "Balancing care-giving activities while dealing positively with daily demands and personal impact". Implications for nursing included assessment of caregiver's needs in the three study domains. Findings indicate that clinicians working with cancer caregivers should offer support as caregivers' cope with the care of their loved ones and struggle with personal distress and with maintenance of normal family life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]