Emotional Distress among Close Relatives Caring for Clients with Cancers Undergoing Chemotherapy Alzeyadi Safi* Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Kerbala, Kerbala City, Iraq *Corresponding author: Safi Alzeyadi, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Kerbala, Kerbala City, Iraq.
Online published on 7 May, 2019. Abstract Emotional distress is a mental disorder of a repulsive experience of expressions, different perception or behavioral. Emotional distress influences are coping with the disease. The nature of the disease and its unpredictability in the future of the patients’ health lead to significant emotional distress among patients and their close relatives. Aims To assess the emotional distress among close relatives caring for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. To find out the correlation between the relatives emotional distress and their demographic characteristics. A descriptive study was conducted on 108 close relatives caring for patients with cancer. Results: The results of the study suggest that (84%) of the study sample had moderate to severe level of emotional distress. Participants’ gender and educational level were found to have a significant relationship with emotional distress (p=< 0.05). Close relatives who care for patients with cancers are highly vulnerable to emotional distress. Female and relatives with low educational level are more likely to have emotional distress than other close relatives are. To provide an educational program about stress reduction strategies. Top Keywords Emotional distress, close relatives, cancer, chemotherapy as chemo. Top |