Anticipated grief in family members of patients with terminal oncological disease

Abstract

Anticipated grief in family members of patients with oncological diseases is a topic rarely addressed by researchers regardless that it has a significant impact on families. This subject encompasses different areas of knowledge, including clinical psychology. This document is part of an investigation carried out with the participation of three families of which a member was diagnosed with cancer in the School Hospital San Juan de Dios Estelí in the period July-November 2017. The study sought to understand how these families experienced anticipated grief. It uses a qualitative approach. Techniques such as in-depth interview, observation guide, the Hamilton scale for anxiety and depression were used to collect data. The main findings reveal the changes in mood that each member suffers on knowing the diagnosis and throughout the development of the disease. These findings revealed high levels of anxiety and depression of the patients’ relatives before losing their beloved ones. It also sheds light on how relatives use their defense mechanisms and personal resources such as faith and love towards the family member to be able to face all kinds of emerging difficulties.