The supportive system perceived by primary caregivers of children with cancer

The purpose of this study is to understand the supportive system of primary caregivers of children with cancer. 121 families of children with cancer were recruited by random sampling from the enrolled list of Childhood Cancer Foundation of the Republic of China. Structured interviews with the primary caregivers were applied to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the material. Results indicate that: 1.Most children's cancer were diagnosed as leuckemia(70.3%) , aged between 4 and 9 years old(47.1%), lived in northern Taiwan and their consulted hospital were located in northern area. The major caregivers were mothers (88.4%), aged between 31 and 40 years old(71.1%), and their educational level were above elementary school. Most fathers worked in private enterprises(40.5%). Most mothers were house keepers( 54.5%). The average number of children in the family was below 2(57%). 2.The first three leading supporting personnel were found to be: nurses, doctors, and spouses of caregivers. 　　本研究以隨機取樣結構式問卷的調查法，對121個家庭進行訪談，以瞭解受訪家 庭的現況，及支持系統的運用情形，做為十年來兒童癌症護理品質改善情形的評價。 　　結果顯示：(一)受訪家庭癌症兒的年齡以4-9歲為最多(47.1%)；診斷以白血病佔 多數（70.3%)；個案居住地以北市及北縣為最多，就醫的醫院也以北區的醫院為多； 母親為患童的主要照顧者(88.4%)；癌症兒童的主要照顧者年齡以31-40歲間佔最多數 (71.1%)，其教育程度多數為小學以上；父親以任職私人機構為多（41.7%)，母親以 全職家管為多(54.5%)；受訪家庭子女數以二位以下最多(57%)。 (二)在支持系統 中，護理人員給予的協助獲得的肯定(1.8分)和醫師(1.79分)及主要照顧者的配偶(1. 77分)同列為最高。雖統計學上無顯著的差異，護理人員所得分數最高。癌症病童及 其家庭獲自精神科醫師或心理諮詢者的支助顯然偏低(0.58)，有待改進。#2386#