Abstract

KRIKORIAN D, ALICIA et al. The experience of suffering in main care takers of patients with cancer-pain and non-cancer pain. av.enferm. [online]. 2010, vol.28, n.1, pp.13-20. ISSN 0121-4500.

The purpose of the study is to describe the experience of suffering among informal care takers of patients with cancer-pain and non-cancer pain at three health institutions of Medellín-Colombia. It is a qualitative study of phenomenological type. The sample consisted of 16 care takers of patients who suffered cancer-pain and non-cancer pain. The information was gathered through a semi-structured interview, the level of suffering was quantified through the emotional thermometer as a complementing element to the qualitative approach. The data obtained were analyzed through categories and profiles previously defined which showed the most common meaning, level and factors of suffering among the interviewed care takers. The results showed that the majority of care takers experienced high levels of suffering. They reported feelings of sadness and satisfaction in a contradictory manner. In the cognitive realm, they associated suffering with pain and the good execution of their activity; in the behavioral field, they expressed that suffering was related to the difficulty in controling the patient's physical symptoms, and with the deferral of their own life activities. In conclusion, the psychological support received by the care takers was perceived as a protecting factor to reduce suffering; the type of pain was related to the experience of suffering and the care taker's role, who were mostly female care takers of patients with cancer pain. The interviewed care takers were at risk of presenting Burnout due to the multiple demands inherent to their role

Keywords : stress psychological; pain; caregivers; neoplasms.

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