Resilience in Informal Caregivers of Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Content Analysis Study.

Abstract

Background: Resilience is a multidimensional concept that explains why some individuals who face adversity, stress, and health-threatening factors are able to adapt and achieve positive outcomes. This study aims to "explain the experience of resilience in informal caregivers of patients with Gastrointestinal cancer."

Materials and methods: This qualitative study was conducted using the conventional content analysis method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews between March and September 2023. The participants included 11 informal caregivers of patients with Gastrointestinal cancer, selected through purposive sampling. Data analysis followed the three-step method proposed by Elo and Kyngäs.

Results: The data analysis revealed five main themes, including emotional self-regulation, care competency, spiritual health, social intelligence, and flourishing.

Conclusions: Informal caregivers, when faced with the caregiving experience, endure and grow through hardships by possessing traits such as optimism, hopefulness, and acceptance, and skills like problem-solving and relationship management.