Research Design:
- Cross-Sectional Study: A cross-sectional design will be used to collect information from a broad sample of cancer patients and their carers at a single moment in time. With the help of this design, it is possible to evaluate the psychological and emotional effects of cancer and provide a current picture of how participants are feeling.
Participants:
- Sampling Technique: Convenience sampling will be used to recruit participants from various oncology clinics, hospitals, and support groups.
- Inclusion Criteria: Participants will include adult cancer patients (18 years and older) diagnosed with various types and stages of cancer and their primary caregivers (spouses, family members, or friends).
- Exclusion Criteria: Individuals with cognitive impairments or severe mental illnesses will be excluded.
Data Collection:
- Surveys and Questionnaires: Participants will complete self-report surveys and questionnaires to assess their psychological and emotional well-being.
- The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) will be used to measure anxiety and depression.
- The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) will assess perceived stress levels.
- The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) will measure overall quality of life.
- The Caregiver Strain Index will evaluate caregiver burden.
- Semi-Structured Interviews: A subset of participants (both patients and caregivers) will be selected for semi-structured interviews to gain deeper insights into their experiences and coping strategies.
- Ethical Considerations: Informed consent will be obtained from all participants, ensuring their anonymity and privacy. The research will adhere to all ethical guidelines and institutional review board (IRB) approvals.
Data Analysis:
- Quantitative Analysis: Statistical software (e.g., SPSS) will be used to analyze survey data. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and regression analysis will be conducted to examine relationships between variables.
- Qualitative Analysis: Qualitative data from interviews will be transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify common themes and patterns in participants’ experiences.
Data Integration: The quantitative and qualitative data will be integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of the psychological and emotional impact on cancer patients and caregivers.
Data Validation: Member checking will be performed, where participants will have the opportunity to review and confirm the accuracy of their interview transcripts.
Limitations:
- The study may face limitations related to the convenience sampling method, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
- The cross-sectional design may not capture changes in psychological and emotional states over time.
- Self-report measures may be subject to response bias.
Data Interpretation and Reporting:
- The results will be interpreted in the context of existing literature, and implications for cancer care, support, and interventions will be discussed.
- Findings will be disseminated through research articles, presentations, and reports to relevant stakeholders.
Research Team: The research team will consist of experienced researchers, clinicians, and data analysts with expertise in oncology and psychology.
