Evaluation of the impact of natural help at the end of life and coping strategies

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Published Jun 1, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i6.5017
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Vol. 103 No. 6 (2025): Tunis Med June 2025

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Rahma Gargouri
Department of Pneumology- Hedi Chaker Hospital Sfax-Tunisia
Olfa Bouaziz
Department of Pneumology- Hedi Chaker Hospital Sfax-Tunisia
Heni Abelhedi
Department of Pneumology- Hedi Chaker Hospital Sfax-Tunisia
Rim Khemakhem
Department of Pneumology- Hedi Chaker Hospital Sfax-Tunisia
Ilhem Yangui
Department of Pneumology- Hedi Chaker Hospital Sfax-Tunisia
Najla Halouani
Department of Psychiatry - Hôpital Hedi Chaker Sfax-Tunisia
Walid Feki
Department of Pneumology- Hedi Chaker Hospital Sfax-Tunisia
Najla Bahloul
Department of Pneumology- Hedi Chaker Hospital Sfax-Tunisia
Samy Kammoun
Department of Pneumology- Hedi Chaker Hospital Sfax-Tunisia

Abstract

Introduction : When medicine is no longer able to offer hope to a patient, we come up against the dreaded feeling of incurability and the end of life. This frustrating situation is experienced by the doctor and the patient but also by the caregivers who find themselves forced to adapt to it.


Aim: This work was done to study the impact of aid on the lives of caregivers of cancer patients, to measure the burden and study their coping strategies.


Methods : This was a two-month cross-sectional study of primary caregivers of patients with lung cancer. Burden was measured using the ZARIT abbreviated scale. Anxiety was assessed using the STAI-Y anxiety inventory. Depression was assessed using the BDI questionnaire.  Coping mechanisms were assessed using the Brief-COPE.


Results : Seventy-four caregivers were included in the study. Among them, 66% were women, with a mean age of 47.7 years. In 58% of cases, the carer was a spouse. Smoking was noted in 12 carers (16%). Co-addiction to alcohol and tobacco was noted in 5 parents (7%).  In 40.5% of cases, help had been provided for 3 to 6 months, and in 70.3% of cases it was provided on a daily basis. In 37.8% of cases, the help lasted more than two hours a day. Carers complained about the lack of information provided about the disease, treatments and what to do in the event of incidents in 41.9% of cases. Welcoming a caregiver at home was reported in 14.8%...(abstract truncated at 250 words).

Keywords:

cancer, family caregiver, coping, burden, depression, anxiety, end of life

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