Background The burden of cancer is escalating in resource‐limited settings like Uganda. However, studies on the unmet needs of family caregivers (FCs) of cancer patients are rare in Africa, despite their importance in guiding supportive care programs and high‐quality patient‐and‐family‐centered care outcomes. Objective The study aimed to explore the unmet needs of FCs of cancer patients in Uganda and its relationship with mental health status and quality‐of‐life outcomes of FCs. Method A cross‐sectional descriptive design was used to collect data from 170 FCs in Uganda. The data were collected using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Quality of Life Index‐Cancer Scale, and the Needs Assessment Family Caregiver‐Cancer Scale. Results FCs exhibited reduced quality of life (mean = 73.55 ± 21.88), anxiety (37.6%), and depressive (20%) symptoms. The lowest scores were in the quality‐of‐life domains of positive adaptation (52.9%) and financial concerns (63.5%). FCs had significant medical, psychosocial, and financial unmet needs. The key medical and psychosocial unmet needs were related to symptom management, medical care, and emotional distress. The quality of life was associated with anxiety, depression, daily activity, finance (all p < 0.01), and psychosocial unmet needs ( p < 0.05). Conclusion The unmet needs of FCs of cancer patients in Uganda significantly impact their quality of life and mental health. The nurses and other healthcare providers caring for cancer patients must utilize care plans that integrate supportive care programs and interventions to address the unmet needs of FCs to ensure better healthcare system, patient, and caregiver outcomes.
Muliira et al. (Thu,) studied this question.