Effect of Counselling on Burden and Coping among Caregivers of Cancer Patients with Terminal Illness

Introduction: Cancer is a major event for the person diagnosed and also for his/ her family caregivers. Most of the people are diagnosed as cancer at late stage. Terminally ill patients are unable to do their activities of daily living. Patient suffering from terminal illness are often hospitalized and death in hospital is common. In India most of them are cared by his/her family members. Since caregivers involves in full care of the terminally ill cancer patients, they ignore caring themselves. This results in stress, anxiety and emotional upsets. Research studies reveal that counseling reduces the level of burden and increase the level of coping. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of counseling on level of burden and coping among caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients admitted in selected hospital in Kanyakumari District. Methods: Pre-experimental one group pretest post-test design was adopted. Data was collected from 30 caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients using purposive sampling technique. Pretest was done using Zarit burden scale and caregivers coping scale. Three sessions of counseling was given on alternative days. Post-test was done on 7^th day. Results: The pretest mean burden score was 65.20 ± 7.16 and the post test score was 23.23 ± 6.8 and t value was 28.09 which was statistically significant. The pretest mean coping score was 27.46 ± 8.02 and the post test score was 92.66 ± 7.15 and statistically significant. The pretest mean burden score was 65.20 ± 7.16 and pre test mean coping score was 27.46 ± 8.02 and its value was r = -.431, which was negatively correlated. There was association between pretest level of burden and coping of primary caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients and their selected demographic variables such as age, sex, and marital status, relationship with patients, behavioral habits, and duration of care giving role. Conclusion: This support that the counseling program is effective in reducing the level of burden and improving the coping among primary caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients.