Coping in family caregivers of oncology inpatients in a tertiary care hopital at south india

Background: Coping in family caregivers of cancer patients is relatively less studied
AIMS; This cross sectional observational study was doneto understand the coping strategies used by family caregivers of cancer patients
Materials and Method: 50 informal caregivers of various types of cancer inpatients of a medical oncology ward at a south Indian tertiary care hospital were selected by random sampling. Assesment was done using ways of coping (revised) [Folk man and lazarus, 1985], ECOG ( eastern cooperative oncology group) performance status.
Results: Both positive (58%) and negative global ways of coping were used. Commonly used strategies weresocial support seeking( commonest positive coping strategy),followed byself controlled (common negative coping strategy),planful problem solving and positive reappraisal .
Conclusion: Family cancer caregivers had unique coping strategies which was associated to the disease status.