| Summary: | The purpose of this study was to explore the socioeconomic needs and concerns of a group of new breast cancer patients and their families with consideration of changes in roles and relationships and patient's feelings about self. The study was conducted in co-operation with the A. Maxwell Evans Clinic, a cancer treatment centre under the direction of the Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia.
The scope of this study was restricted to new breast cancer patients referred to the New Patients Clinic in May, 1978 and their primary care-givers. In this study, the primary care-givers were family members most responsible for the patient's rehabilitation.
The sample consisted of 16 patients and 14 primary care-givers. Two of the patients' primary care-givers were not available at the time of the interview. The sample included patients with breast cancer in Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4.
One interview schedule was designed for the patient and a shorter form for the primary care-giver. An open-ended question about the patients and primary care-givers' greatest concerns were included to identify needs not covered by scheduled topics and to give respondents an opportunity to expand and priorize concerns.
Socioeconomic change was defined in terms of changes in place of residence, work activities outside the home, family roles and responsibilities, relationships with family and friends, and feelings about self.
The findings indicated that the area of greatest change was in family roles and relationships. Most primary care-givers were interested in talking to the interviewer about some anxieties concerning their new role as primary care-giver. Some primary care-givers also were interested in more information about how to create a rehabilitative environment for the patient. All patients were generally positive toward the Clinic. Several patients expressed a number of suggestions for improving support services and offered ideas about . the attitudes of significant others which affect the patient's sense of well-being and ability to recover.
The researcher makes some recommendations for enhancing and developing supportive services for the consideration of the medical team and the specialized social services department in a cancer clinic. The recommendations include approaches to help families recognize and develop new roles to help the patient recover. === Arts, Faculty of === Social Work, School of === Graduate
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