Family caregivers of women with breast cancer in Iran report high psychological impact six months after diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To explore how family caregivers of women with breast cancer in Iran describe the areas in life which are important to their quality of life (QoL), and to determine which areas in life that are influenced by having a family member with breast cancer. METHODS: The study is descriptive and prospective. A total of 88 family caregivers of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer were interviewed using the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL-DW) at a time close to diagnosis and then again at 6 months after. Interviews were analyzed by manifest inductive qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Areas related to the categories Own and Family health, and Relationships were considered to be the most important to QoL. A majority of the family caregivers reported that concerns categorised as Psychological impact had high influence on QoL shortly after diagnosis and the following six months. Other areas that were frequently mentioned at both time points were categorized as Focus on family health, Concerns about the disease, and Change in family relationship. Positive aspects in life were also reported as a consequence to the breast cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: High psychological impact is a concern of family caregivers six months after diagnosis of breast cancer. It is imperative that family caregivers are given early attention, and the opportunity to express their perceptions and needs, as this may lead to a better understanding of their experience, thus providing guidance for supportive interventions.

Outcomes of parental mental illness on children: a qualitative study from Iran.

Children of parents with mental illness are a substantial, yet marginalized group. This study, as part of a more extensive research project, used grounded theory to explore the outcomes of parental mental illness on their children. Seventeen informants were interviewed at a mental hospital in the city of Qazvin, Iran. The participants were selected using purposeful and theoretical sampling. Interviews were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's method. It was revealed that parental mental illness leads to five major outcomes that involve communication, mental, educational, economic, and extra roles factors. As such, it is suggested that these children should be considered within health care plans and that policy makers, nurses, and other health care providers use these findings for preventive and educational purposes.