Surpassing the diagnosis: a grounded theory on the concept of burden and the coping strategies of Filipino adults diagnosed with cancer and of cancer patient caregivers

Abstract

The study aims to understand the concept of burden, its development, its factors, and its impacts on the lives of people diagnosed with cancer and of cancer patient caregivers, and how they deal and cope with the disease and the development of the concept of burden. This study is of Sequential Exploratory Mixed Methods Approach, specifically Grounded Theory then purposive survey. For the qualitative part of the study, 31 respondents (22 patients and 9 caregivers) were interviewed. Data gathered from the interview respondents were used to generate a theory and to come up with a Self- Perceived Burden and Coping Scale. For the preliminary survey, 106 cancer patients participated. Non-probability sampling were used in selecting the participants for this study. Different types of coding (open, axial and selective) and theory formulation were used in the analysis of the qualitative data, while acquiring the frequency and the Cronbach’s Alpha of the scale, with the use of the SPSS16, were used in the analysis of the quantitative data. The study found out that the Filipino concept of burden is in terms of expenses, of dependence, and of productivity. Factors affecting the development of the concept of burden, the impacts of burden, and the coping strategies employed all influence the concept of burden. The concept of burden or “pabigat” is largely influenced by Filipino culture and values such as hiya, utang na loob, kapwa and pakikipagkapwa-tao, and pakikiramdam. The concept of burden, together with its factors, impacts and coping strategies, and illness management and recovery were found to affect each other. The researcher argues that the scale developed from this study was found helpful in addressing some of the problems associated with cancer, specifically in assessing the self-perceived burden of cancer patients.