Family members of cancer patients: Needs, quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression

Figures & data

Table I. Sample description (N = 223). Family member's characteristics and patient medical information.

	n (%)
Family member's gender
Female	139 (62)
Male	84 (38)
Relation to patient
Spouse	140 (64)
Others^1	80 (36)
Family members age
≤ 55 years	111 (51)
> 55 years	108 (49)
Family members currently working
Yes	143 (66)
Working full-time	107 (73)
Working part-time	39 (27)
Family residency
Capital area	168 (76)
Other	52 (24)
Time from patients diagnosis
< 1 year	119 (54)
1–5 years	68 (32)
> 5 years	31 (14)
Stage of patients cancer
Metastatic	91 (44)
Localized	90 (43)
Unknown	28 (13)
Care site at time of study
Medical onc/hem outpatient	60 (27)
Radiation outpatient	46 (21)
Medical oncology inpatient	37 (17)
Palliative home care	33 (15)
Medical haematology inpatient	28 (13)
Palliative care inpatient	19 (8)
Receiving home care
No	131 (63)
Home aid	34 (16)
Specialized palliative home care	49 (23)
Community home nursing	17 (8)

¹Adult children (26%), parent (4%), sibling (2%).

Table II. Family care needs measured with FIN (20 items): Means (SD) of importance, prevalence of important needs and prevalence of unmet important needs (N = 223).

FIN-Family Care Needs	Mean^a (SD)	Important needs^b %	Unmet needs^c %
Be assured that the best possible care is being given to the patient	4.9 ± 0.4	100	27
Feel that professionals care about the patient	4.8 ± 0.5	100	20
Have my questions answered honestly	4.7 ± 0.6	97	28
Have explanations given in terms that are understandable	4.7 ± 0.6	97	41
Be informed about changes in the patient's condition	4.7 ± 0.6	90	44
Have information about what to do for the patient at home	4.6 ± 0.8	97	49
Feel there is hope	4.6 ± 0.8	89	38
Know what treatments the patient is receiving	4.6 ± 0.7	94	30
Know what symptoms the treatment or disease can cause	4.6 ± 0.7	90	48
Know specific facts concerning the patients’ prognosis	4.6 ± 0.7	90	43
Know the probable outcome of the patients’ illness	4.6 ± 0.6	94	47
Be told about changes in treatment plans while they are being made	4.5 ± 0.8	94	41
Know exactly what is being done to the patient	4.5 ± 0.7	90	44
Know when to expect symptoms to occur	4.4 ± 0.7	87	51
Know why things are done for the patient	4.4 ± 0.7	84	44
Feel accepted by the health care professionals	4.1 ± 1.1	71	30
Help with the patient's care	4.0 ± 1.2	66	27
Be told about people who could help with problems	3.9 ± 1.3	72	56
Know the names of the health care professional involved in the patient's care	3.8 ± 1.0	66	27
Have someone be concerned with my health	3.8 ± 1.2	57	47

^aNeeds scale = 1 (not important) - 5 (very important).

^bPrevalence of important needs scored 4 (important) or 5 (very important).

^cPrevalence of important needs not met/partly met scored either 4 or 5 of importance.

Table III. Quality of life mean scores (SD) on Quality of Life Scale Items and total mean (SD) OOL score of family members of cancer patients.

Item		Mean (SD)
1	Material comforts: home, food, conveniences, financial security	5.6 ± 1.2
2	Health: being physically fit and vigorous	5.2 ± 1.4
3	Relationships with parents, siblings and other relatives	5.5 ± 1.3
4	Having and raising children	6.5 ± 0.9
5	Relationship with spouse or significant other	6.3 ± 0.9
6	Relationship with friends	5.8 ± 1.1
7	Helping and encouraging others	5.6 ± 1.1
8	Participating in organizations and public affairs	4.6 ± 1.3
9	Learning: attending school, improving knowledge	5.1 ± 1.2
10	Understanding of self	5.5 ± 1.1
11	Work: job or home	5.7 ± 1.1
12	Creativity/personal expression	4.9 ± 1.2
13	Socializing: meeting other people, doing things	5.0 ± 1.4
14	Reading, music, entertainment	5.3 ± 1.2
15	Participating in active recreation	4.5 ± 1.5
16	Independence, doing for yourself	6.2 ± 0.9
	Mean QOL Score	5.5 ± 0.75

Table IV. Symptoms of anxiety and depression measured with HADS: Mean (SD) scores and prevalence of no symptoms, possible symptoms and symptoms, in family members of cancer patients.

Anxiety: mean (SD)	5.5 ± 2.8
Anxiety: prevalence (%)
Score 0–7 (no symptoms)	79
Score 8–10 (possible symptoms)	13
Score 11–21 (symptoms)	7
Depression: mean (SD)	7.3 ± 2.7
Depression: prevalence (%)
Score 0–7 (no symptoms)	59
Score 8–10 (possible symptoms)	29
Score 11–21 (symptoms)	12