Requirements for promoting help-seeking behaviors in family caregivers of cancer patients: A qualitative study

Caring for a family member with cancer is a challenging issue for families. Family caregivers often need the help of supportive resources to solve problems in their care role. A deep understanding of the requirements of caregivers to seek help is an effective step toward their ability to use supportive resources. This study aimed to identify and describe the requirements for promoting help‑seeking behaviors in Iranian family caregivers of cancer patients.

This qualitative study was conducted through in‑depth semi‑structured interviews with 28 participants selected using purposeful sampling method from 2019 to 2021. An interview guide with general questions about seeking help was used to maintain coherence in data collection. The interviews continued until data saturation. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed through qualitative content analysis.

The requirements of promoting help‑seeking behaviors in family caregivers were grouped into four main categories: (1) improving social paths toward seeking help, (2) spiritual‑psychological‑cognitive empowerment toward seeking help, (3) strengthening the motivations behind seeking help, and (4) modifying the perception of cultural barriers to seeking help.

According to the results of this study, it is expected that by identifying the requirements of caregivers for seeking help and by health stakeholders designing comprehensive programs to address these needs, caregivers will be empowered to use supportive resources and provide a better care role.