ArticlePloS one2022
"I always find myself very tired and exhausted": The physical impact of caring; a descriptive phenomenological study of the experiences of prostate cancer caregivers in Cape Coast, Ghana.
Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Dietary Quality and Intake of Cancer Caregivers: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies and Recommendations for Future Research.Cancer medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Family-centered care for cancer patients and their families in developing countries: an integrative review.BMC health services research · 2026Review
- 'A Moment for Me': The Role of Respite in Sustaining Mental Health Carers.International journal of mental health nursing · 2026Article
- The Experiences and Perspective of Partners of Men With Prostate Cancer in Ireland: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.Nursing open · 2026Article
- Care-related burden and quality of life among informal caregivers for older adults: a cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Supportive care needs of the family caregivers of urostomy patients: a qualitative study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Effects of trauma-related amputations in children on caregivers: An exploratory descriptive study in a developing country.PloS one · 2025Article
- Physical pain among family caregivers to older adults: A scoping review of the literature.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2024Article
- Health and economic impact of caregiving on informal caregivers of people with chronic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Experiences and coping strategies of women caring for their husbands with cancer at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia: a descriptive phenomenological approach.Ecancermedicalscience · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionProstate cancer is a significant public health burden and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among men worldwide. This study, therefore, explored how caring affects the physical health of family caregivers of prostate cancer patients.
methodThe study adopted a descriptive phenomenological method. Twelve participants were recruited using the purposive sampling technique. A semi-structured face to face, in-depth interviews were conducted with family caregivers of patients living with prostate cancer. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the data were analysed using Colaizzi's phenomenological approach.
findingsThe family caregiver's experience with the physical impact associated with caregiving uncovered two significant themes with six sub-themes. "Rest and Sleep" emerged as the first central theme, with sleeplessness, fatigue, pain, and worsening pre-existing conditions as the sub-themes. The second main theme was 'Nutrition' with altered eating patterns and weight loss emerging as sub-themes.
conclusionThe study suggests that family caregivers of patients treated for prostate cancer may struggle with physical consequences associated with the caregiving role, which impacts their physical health. It is of great importance, especially for nurses, to come up with measures to minimise these adverse physical effects on the family caregivers through formal education programmes and training on how to care for these patients at home.
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