Effectiveness of Social Work Intervention on the Caretakers of Cancer Patients A Social Work Study

<p>Diagnosis of cancer revealed to the patient and family members causes emotional trauma.</p><p>Medical advancements have resulted in treating cancer for either cure or control. This has</p><p>increased the responsibilities of family caretakers for comprehensive care of the patient.</p><p>Literature has provided abundant evidence for the impact of caretaking on psychological</p><p>condition of the caretakers. When family caretakers are unprepared or lack support they will fail</p><p>to maintain their physical and emotional health. In this context current study is conducted with</p><p>the specific aims of a) To develop a Social Work intervention module to deal with quality of life</p><p>issues of caretakers of persons living with cancer reduce their depressive symptoms and</p><p>facilitate healthy coping strategies and b) To test its effectiveness empirically. Hence the</p><p>objectives of the study are 1) To study socio demographic features of caretakers of persons with</p><p>cancer and persons living with cancer. 2) To find out the impact of cancer on the economic</p><p>conditions of the family. 3) To assess the extent of depression on caretakers of persons with</p><p>cancer. 4) To study the quality of life of caretakers of persons with cancer. 5) To find out the</p><p>coping strategies used by the caretakers of persons with cancer. 6) To measure the effectiveness</p><p>of Social Work intervention on depression quality of life and coping strategies of caretakers of</p><p>persons with cancer.</p><p>Study is conducted in a clinical setting following the Randomized Control Trial design wherein</p><p>a total of 120 caretakers were taken and were equally divided as cases and controls having 60</p><p>each in both the groups. These caretakers were recruited only if they fulfilled the inclusion</p><p>criteria of being above the age of 18 years newly diagnosed cases comprehending the languages</p><p>of Kannada/English/Konkani/Tulu/Hindi and residing in Mangalore Taluq /DK even temporarily</p><p>for the purpose of treatment. After the baseline assessment on level of depression quality of life</p><p>and coping mechanisms cases received the comprehensive Social Work intervention for four</p><p>months and controls received educational intervention only. Assessment of both the groups on</p><p>level of depression quality of life and coping mechanisms was done after one month of</p><p>intervention.</p>