Examination of the Care Burden of Caregivers of Oncology Patients and the Perceived Social Support from Family

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the care burden of caregiving family members of oncology patients and the perceived social support from family. Methods: The study was conducted as a descriptive and correlational study. The population of the study consisted of caregiving family members of patients who were receiving treatment in the medical oncology clinic of a university hospital between January and July 2014. The sample of the study was determined as 150 by using the sampling method with finite population and the randomized method. The data were collected by using 'Questionnaire, 'Burden interview', and 'Perceived Social Support from Family Scale'. Results: In the study, total mean score obtained by caregiving family members were determined as 25.00±13.59 in the Burden Interview and 8.00±1.60 in the Perceived Social Support from Family Scale. The values showed that while the care burden was high; the perceived social support from family was low. There was a negative correlation between the Care Burden of caregiving family members and the Perceived Social Support from Family. It was determined that as the care burden increased, the Perceived Social Support from Family decreased. Discussion: In the study, it was found that while the care burden of the caregiving families was high, their perceived social support from family was low.