Unmet needs in caregivers of patients with breast cancer: Dyadic perception

Abstract

Objective To analyze the unmet needs of informal caregivers of women with breast cancer (CaMa) from a dyadic perspective. Method An exploratory, cross-sectional and qualitative study was carried out through in-depth interviews, completed in the Department of Breast Tumors of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico. Three dyads (informal primary caregivers and patients, respectively) were included. The analysis was performed using an inductive approach. Interpretive descriptive analysis was chosen as the most appropriate methodological design. Results The main unmet needs of the informal primary caregivers, perceived by the dyads, were psychological (such as the negative feelings caused by the mood changes of the patients) and informative (for example, the caregivers asked for information related to side effects and how to care and that the writing information use colloquial terms). Conclusions The unmet needs are the result of taking care, the level of affective commitment they have with the patient and the lack of training for care. The study highlights the relevance of planning interventions from a dyadic perspective.