The Downside of Caring: A Qualitative Study on Compassion Fatigue in Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients

The present research attempted to study the experience of caregiving and resultant compassion fatigue among family caregivers of cancer patients. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted on the quality of life, coping mechanisms and self-care patterns of the primary caregivers. A total of eight family caregivers residing in Delhi, were recruited for the purpose of the study. The sample comprised of four male and four female, within the age range of 25 to 40 years. The data were subjected to thematic analysis using the Braun and Clark (2006) approach. The major themes identified were: ‘general experience of caregiving’, ‘change in relational dynamics’, ‘negative impact of caregiving experience’, ‘positive impact of caregiving experience’, ‘role of social support system’, ‘coping mechanisms’, and ‘changing dynamics of self-care’.