ผลของการทำกลุ่มช่วยเหลือตนเองต่อความเครียดและการเผชิญความเครียดของผู้ดูแลเด็กโรคมะเร็งที่ได้รับเคมีบำบัด

Abstract

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine effects of a self-help group on stress and coping among caregivers of children with cancer receiving chemotherapy. The sample consisted of caregivers of children with cancer admitted in the pediatric cancer ward, Songklanagarind Hospital. Purposive sampling was used to select sample into a control group (n = 25) and an experimental group (n = 25). The experimental group received the usual nursing care and participated in a self-help group. The control group received the usual nursing care. Data collection was first conducted in the control group and then in experimental group. Data were collected using the demographic data form, stress questionnaires and coping strategies questionnaire. All questionnaires were tested for content validity by three experts. Stress questionnaires was tested for reliability, yielding a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .83 and coping strategies questionnaires was test-retested for reliability, yielding the Pearson’s correlation coefficient .89. Pearson’s correlation coefficient of problem-focused coping, emotional-focused coping and palliative-focused coping were .77, .79 and .70 respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and t-test. The results were as follows: 1. The mean score of stress in the experimental group after participating in the self-help group was significantly lower than that of before participating in a self-help group (p = .001). 2. The mean score of stress of control group after receiving the usual nursing care on the third day was not significantly different from the first day (p = .663). 3. The mean scores of stress of the control group and experimental group before participating in a self-help group were not significantly different (p = 0.859). 4. The mean score of stress in the experimental group after participating in the self-help group was significantly lower than that of control group (p = .008). 5. The mean score of the problem-focused coping in the experimental group after participating in the self-help group was significantly higher than before participating in a self-help group (p = .001). 6. The mean score of the emotional-focused coping and palliative-focused coping after participating in a self-help group in the experimental group were not significantly different from before participating in the self-help group (p = .650, p = .112 respectively). 7. The mean scores of the problem-focused coping emotional-focused coping and palliative-focused coping after received the usual nursing care in the control group were not significantly different from before receiving the usual nursing care (p = .300, p = .200, p = .453 respectively). 8. The mean score of the problem-focused coping in the experimental group after participating in the self-help group were significantly higher than that in the control group (p = .048). 9. The mean scores of emotional-focused coping and palliative-focused coping between the experimental and control group after the intervention were not significantly different (p = .420, p = .059 respectively). 10. The difference in scores of the experimental group and the control group was greatest for problem-focused coping, followed by palliative-focused coping and emotional-focused coping respectively.