Caregivers of Individuals with Cancer in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study

Leila Abou Salha, Julio Cesar Souza Silva, Cleusa Alves Martins, Cristiane Soares da Costa Araújo, Edinamar Aparecida Santos da Silva, Angela Gilda Alves, Cácia Régia de Paula, Flavio Henrique Alves de Lima, Veidma Siqueira de Moura, José Elmo de Menezes, Virginia Visconde Brasil and Maria Alves Barbosa
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Leila Abou Salha: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-050, Brazil
Julio Cesar Souza Silva: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-050, Brazil
Cleusa Alves Martins: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-050, Brazil
Cristiane Soares da Costa Araújo: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-080, Brazil
Edinamar Aparecida Santos da Silva: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-050, Brazil
Angela Gilda Alves: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-080, Brazil
Cácia Régia de Paula: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Jataí, Jatai 75801-615, Brazil
Flavio Henrique Alves de Lima: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-050, Brazil
Veidma Siqueira de Moura: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-050, Brazil
José Elmo de Menezes: Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Goiás, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-900, Brazil
Virginia Visconde Brasil: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-080, Brazil
Maria Alves Barbosa: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74605-050, Brazil

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Caregivers of individuals with cancer in the COVID-19 pandemic are faced with the demands of cancer and the health needs produced by it, along with their own health and self-care needs, and the uncertainties of expectations and risks. A qualitative analytical phenomenological study with caregivers of individuals with cancer registered at the state referral hospital supplying medications, who answered the sociodemographic assessment questionnaires and semi-structured questions about their feelings and perceptions in the COVID-19 pandemic. Bardin’s content analysis was used, with methodological quality assessed using SRQR Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research and the MAXQDA software. Most of the caregivers are women, married, Catholic, of low income and education, aged between 30 and 60 years, optimistic, comply with health guidelines regarding social distancing, use of masks, and routine hand hygiene, do not practice regular physical activities, mention concern for their own physical and financial survival, and that of their family. The main need identified in the affective sphere was to reframe contact with family members, seeking to strengthen the bonds of affection. The feeling of emotional vulnerability shows the importance of building effective public policies for social support consistent with the improvement of health care for this population.

Keywords: COVID-19; cancer; caregivers; qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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