University of Twente Student Theses

Voor partners van kankerpatiënten: een onderzoek naar de samenhang tussen de demografische en ziekte gerelateerde variabelen van de partner van een kankerpatiënt en de behoefte van deze partner aan psychosociale interventies.

Kraanen, L.S. (2013) Voor partners van kankerpatiënten: een onderzoek naar de samenhang tussen de demografische en ziekte gerelateerde variabelen van de partner van een kankerpatiënt en de behoefte van deze partner aan psychosociale interventies.

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Abstract:	Background: A growing number of people in the Netherlands are suffering from cancer. As a logical result the number of people that have a partner with cancer is growing as well. These partners of cancer patients will experience caregiver burden on five different areas of life. Partners experience a lot of distress at the emotional level. When a partner experiences distress, it has a negative impact on the quality of life, the psycho-social wellbeing and even on the recovery of the patient. Demographic variables of the partner like age, gender and educational level, do influence the extent to which the partner experiences distress. Besides, illness related variables such as treatment, diagnosis and current situation, also influence the extent to which the partner experiences distress. To reduce existing distress level of partners, a number of interventions have been developed. The most common stress reducing interventions are focused on information. Psychological support was the least common. At the same time there is evidence of the positive effect of support groups and self-help interventions to reduce the distress level of partners of oncological patients. Method: This questionnaire study aims to improve our understanding of the needs of partners of cancer patients, regarding psycho-social interventions and the influence of demographic and illness related variables to these needs. Partners of oncological patients were asked to participate in this study. Partners received six questionnaires: the HADS, the MHC-SF, the BRS, the CSI, the PTGI and the ABO, and one item of the SF36. In addition they received a questionnaire about the demographic and illness related variables, and a questionnaire designed for this research to investigate the experience needs with regard to psychosocial (online) interventions. Overall, 49 partners have participated. Results: The respondents had a mean age of 61 years, were mostly male (67%) and a majority had lower vocational education or the household school listed as highest level of education. The most common type of cancer was breast cancer (57%), most of the patients did have chemotherapy (57%) and the majority of the patients was no longer under treatment. Generally, partners scored highest on their needs for information interventions. Partners who were 50 years or younger scored significantly higher on their needs for support groups than partners older than 50 years(P=0.02). Partners of patients who were diagnosed with a different type of cancer than breast cancer, , scored higher on their needs for information than partners of breast cancer patients did (P=0.04). Conclusion: This study concludes that partners of oncological patients have the most need for information interventions. In addition, the minority of partners indicates that they have a need for support groups, psychological help and self-help. Approximately one quarter of the partners indicates that they possibly have a need for the above-mentioned interventions. Furthermore is concluded that partners who were 50 years or younger experience a significantly higher need for support groups interventions than their elders. Partners of patients who had a different diagnosis than breast cancer, had a significant higher need for information interventions than the partners of breast cancer patients.
Item Type:	Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:	BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:	77 psychology
Programme:	Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:	https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/63245
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