Anticipatory Grief in Caregivers of Hospitalized Patients With Cancer in Yazd, Iran

Background & Aims After a cancer diagnosis and the initiation of the treatment process, family members often take the responsibility to care for their patients. During this process, they may experience anticipatory grief, which can negatively impact their mental health and predispose them to negative emotions. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the extent of anticipatory grief in caregivers of patients with cancer admitted to adult oncology wards in Yazd, Iran. Materials & Methods In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 160 caregivers of patients with cancer hospitalized in the adult oncology ward of Shahid Sadiughi Hospital in Yazd, Iran, were recruited using a convenience sampling method. The participants completed a demographic form and the anticipatory grief scale (AGS). Data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 21, employing descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test, analysis of variance). Results Among participants, 83.1% were female, and 38.8% were the patients’ children. The mean age of caregivers was 39.96±10.54 years. The mean AGS score was 44.82±11.52. This score showed significant differences by gender (P=0.007) and caregiving duration (P=0.006). However, no significant differences were observed by age, economic status, educational level, or relationship with the patient (P>0.05). Conclusion The level of anticipatory grief among caregivers of hospitalized patients with cancer in Yazd is higher than the average level. It is higher in females with longer caregiving durations. Therefore, implementing interventions to reduce their anticipatory grief, with a focus on the identified key effective factors, is recommended.