The informational needs, satisfaction with communication, and psychological status of primary caregivers of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

The first objective of the study was to identify the specific informational needs of primary caregivers of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in a Greek outpatient setting and to assess their preference for cancer-specifi c booklets, their levels of satisfaction with communication and their psych ological status. The second objective was to examine whether their need for information was associated with their preference for written information, level of satisfaction, and levels of psychological distress. The final obje ctive was to search for possible associations between satisfaction and psyc hological distress. Seventy-eight caregivers participated in the study and data were collected by structured individual interviews. The main findings to emerge were that a significant proportion of the caregivers had elevated needs for information, which were positively associated with a preference for cancer-specific printed material and negatively associated with satisfa ction with the doctor's communication of information and affective behavior . Participants experienced heightened levels of anxiety and depression, whi ch were independent of the need for information, preference for printed mat erial or satisfaction with communication. The results suggest that the Gree k cancer caregiver needs more factual information relevant to the patient's condition and that communication of information is critical if he or she i s to be satisfied. The Greek oncologist should therefore not only try to de tect the informational needs, but should also be qualified to meet them in the best possible way. In addition, the rates of anxiety and depression obs erved highlight the need for a more thorough evaluation and management of c aregivers' psychological morbidity in the Greek oncology setting.