Degree of Needs' Importance and Satisfaction Among Caregivers of Children with Cancer in Jordanian Families

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the degree of importance
and satisfaction of caregiving needs among family members who have
children with cancer in Jordan. A purposive sample (N=100) of family
caregivers participated in this study, (80%) of them are females. The
participating caregivers were recruited and interviewed in a medical
center located in Amman. Results showed that needs of obtaining
information, and accompanying the sick child, scored the highest
levels of importance and satisfaction, while need of facilitating the
development of the sick child scored the lowest levels of importance
and satisfaction among caregivers. Stepwise regression analyses'
findings also showed that degree of satisfaction with needs of
negotiating with health care professionals, maintaining the
caregiver's own strength, and accompanying the sick child were the
best significant predictors of the total degree of caregiving needs'
importance. Moreover, the results showed that the group of family
caregivers at the diagnostic stage tended to be significantly less
satisfied with the needs of obtaining information than those at the
treatment stage. In addition, those who mentioned their need for
psychological help were significantly less satisfied with the needs of
maintaining the caregiver's own strength, facilitating the development
of the sick child and obtaining information than those who did not
mention their need for such a help. The study includes counseling
implications and interventions.