Needs of Women Caring for Husbands with Cancer at Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia: An Analytical Nonintervention, Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: The number of men with cancer at the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) in Zambia has nearly doubled. The CDH offers free treatment, but the families pay for “extras”, for example, laboratory and diagnostic investigations. Objective: To assess the needs of women caring for their husbands with cancer at the CDH. Methods: Stratified random sampling was used for this cross-sectional survey. Data were collected using a 27-item Needs Assessment of Family Caregivers-Cancer tool; analysis used SPSS version 23 and STATA version 17. Women currently caring for their husbands with cancer or in follow-up at the CDH and able to read/write English were eligible. Results: A statistically significant association was found between wives’ ability to pay husbands’ medical fees and education, cancer diagnosis and stage, and occupation and income. Emotional distress was associated with taking time for herself and family gatherings. Statistically significant factors for improving emotional distress were satisfaction with hospital staff help, medical insurance, and managing husbands’ pain and symptoms. Conclusions: Women’s financial resources directly impacted their husbands’ care. When 4 specific needs were met, the women’s emotional distress was low. Implications for Practice: Nurses must acknowledge the impact of husbands’ cancer on wives and assess their needs to execute appropriate supportive interventions throughout their caring journey. What is Foundational: Women caring for husbands with cancer shared their caring experiences, emotional distress, and coping. The findings inform further research on how CDH nurses can best support these critical caregivers with a larger care role due to shortages of professional support personnel.