Ansuk Jeong1, Ji Yeong An2, Jong Hyock Park3, Keeho Park4. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Utah Asia Campus, Incheon, South Korea. 2. Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 3. College of Medicine/Graduate School of Health Science Business Convergence, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea. 4. Department of Cancer Control and Policy/ Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: When cancer hits a family, the entire family members start to adapt to the new status. This study aimed to investigate the main issue of the family with cancer patient and their way of solving it. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted as a qualitative research. Thirty-three participants described their experience either as cancer patients or as family caregivers. RESULTS: Guided by the grounded theory, we identified the main concern of the families being primary caregiver selection. The primary caregiver was determined by the conditions of the patient and the family, but the primary caregiver accepted his/her role believing no alternative was plausible in the family. The processes of the entire family have change since cancer showed their "adapting living," which was identified as the core variable. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the current study's limitations, suggestions were made for future studies in which cultural attributes are distinguished from the medical system attributes.
OBJECTIVE: When cancer hits a family, the entire family members start to adapt to the new status. This study aimed to investigate the main issue of the family with cancerpatient and their way of solving it. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted as a qualitative research. Thirty-three participants described their experience either as cancerpatients or as family caregivers. RESULTS: Guided by the grounded theory, we identified the main concern of the families being primary caregiver selection. The primary caregiver was determined by the conditions of the patient and the family, but the primary caregiver accepted his/her role believing no alternative was plausible in the family. The processes of the entire family have change since cancer showed their "adapting living," which was identified as the core variable. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the current study's limitations, suggestions were made for future studies in which cultural attributes are distinguished from the medical system attributes.