がん患者の家族の情報ニーズおよび情報伝達に関する認識とその関連要因：初期と末期の比較

Information Needs, Information Receiving and the Related Variables among Japanese Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients: In Initial Phase vs In Terminal Phase

要旨

　本研究ではがん患者の家族の初期および末期における情報ニーズおよび情報伝達に関する認識とその関連要因について検討した．対象は総合病院一般病棟および緩和ケア病棟へ入院したがん患者の家族であり，質問紙を用いた面接調査を行い，疾患，治療，予後，患者および家族へのケアに関する情報ニーズおよび情報伝達状況について尋ね，さらに各情報の伝達の有無への関連要因を検討した．各期66名が対象となり，情報ニーズを持つ家族のうち，初期に疾患，治療，予後の情報伝達のあった家族は6-7割，患者および家族へのケアに関する情報伝達のあった家族は1-3割であった．末期は疾患，治療，予後および患者へのケアに関する情報伝達のあった家族は7-9割，家族ケアに関する情報伝達のあった家族は約5割であった．また，高齢，患者への病名告知なし，および患者が治療を受けていない家族は情報ニーズがあるにもかかわらず有意に情報が伝達されていないと認識していた．

Abstract

　In Japan, family caregivers of cancer patients usually receive information on the patient from healthcare professionals before patients are told the truth. Efforts to provide suitable information to these caregivers may be crucial to improving the quality of life in family caregivers as well as in patients. A descriptive correlational study explored and assessed the information needs and the information receiving of family caregivers of cancer patients, both in initial phase and in terminal phase. Data were obtained by a semi-structured interview with a questionnaire. The categories of information assessed were disease, treatment, prognosis, and patient and family care. In addition, the demographic and situational characteristics related to individual information receiving were investigated by logistic regression analyses. In initial phase, of 66 family caregivers, about twothirds expressed they received the disease-related information, whereas less than one-third of those felt they did not receive the care-related information. In terminal phase, among 66 family caregivers, most caregivers expressed they received the disease-related and care-related information for patients, whereas less than half of those felt they did not receive the care-related information for themselves. The caregivers who were older, who did not inform the cancer diagnosis to the patient, and whose patient had not undergone any treatment significantly more perceived that they did not receive information, although they had the needs for information. Our results may help healthcare professionals to plan the appropriate provision of information to family caregivers of cancer patients.