Family problems during cancer chemotherapy.

Although reports suggest that a cancer diagnosis affects all members of a family, limited descriptions are available of the types of problems families experience when a family member has cancer. Adult patients with cancer (n = 100) and their family members (n = 126) were interviewed in their homes at 1 1/2 weeks, 7 1/2 weeks, and 6 months following the initiation of chemotherapy. The Problem Centered Family Coping Interview, a semistructured tool with established content validity, was used to identify family problems that occurred in the previous month. Content analysis was performed on interviews using empirically based categories. Families reported from one to eight problems occurring in the previous month (mean = 3.4). Cancer-related health concerns accounted for 48%-52% of the problems identified at all three interviews. This study's findings enhance knowledge about the family's cancer experience.