Research Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Practice, Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Cancer Nurs. 2012 Nov-Dec;35(6):402-10. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0b013e318231daf0.
There is considerable evidence demonstrating the negative effects of caregiving particularly in the areas of psychological well-being and quality of life of family caregivers of patients with cancer. However, there is little work on male caregivers' subjective experience of caring for family members with cancer, and little is known on how caregivers experience the caring over time.
The objective of the study was to explore male spouses'/partners' experience of caring for their wives/partners with breast and gynecologic cancer over a 1-year period.
An exploratory longitudinal qualitative descriptive design using face-to-face interviews of 15 spouses/partners was used in this study. Content analysis of the transcribed data was conducted to extract significant categories and themes.
Varying degrees of interrelated cognitive, physical, and psychological impact were experienced by caregivers that extended to 12 months. Gender-specific attitudes prevented male caregivers from supporting their own self. Male caregivers dealt with problems that arose in the caregiving congruent with their masculinity, such as minimizing disruptions, focusing on tasks, and keeping their own stress to themselves.
Male caregivers as a separate group with their own needs have not received much attention in the cancer literature, and their concerns and challenges may differ from those of female caregivers.
Male caregivers' concerns and challenges must be taken into consideration when planning appropriate interventions to support them in their caregiving role.
有大量证据表明，照顾者会受到负面影响，尤其是癌症患者的家属照顾者在心理健康和生活质量方面。然而，关于男性照顾者照顾癌症患者的主观体验的研究甚少，也鲜少了解照顾者随着时间的推移如何体验照顾。
本研究旨在探讨男性配偶/伴侣在 1 年内照顾患有乳腺癌和妇科癌症的妻子/伴侣的体验。
本研究采用了面对面访谈 15 名配偶/伴侣的探索性纵向定性描述设计。对转录数据进行内容分析，以提取重要类别和主题。
照顾者经历了不同程度的相互关联的认知、身体和心理影响，这些影响持续了 12 个月。特定于性别的态度阻止了男性照顾者支持自己。男性照顾者处理了与他们的男子气概相一致的照顾中出现的问题，例如最小化干扰、专注于任务和将自己的压力留给自己。
男性照顾者作为一个有自己需求的独立群体，在癌症文献中并没有受到太多关注，他们的关注点和挑战可能与女性照顾者不同。
在规划支持他们在照顾角色中的适当干预措施时，必须考虑男性照顾者的关注点和挑战。
