A newly printed study within the European Journal of Oncology Nursing, led by Dr. Thinh Toan Vu on the Center for Innovation in Mental Health with Associate Professors Sasha Fleary, Glen Johnson, and Victoria Ngo, reveals that over half of household caregivers for lung cancer sufferers in Vietnam report low resilience. This raises pressing issues about caregiver psychological well being and the sustainability of casual care inside an already overstretched well being system.
The study surveyed 213 grownup household caregivers between June 2023 and August 2024, offering precious perception into the emotional pressure confronted by long-term caregivers in a rustic where formal assist companies are restricted. Family caregivers stay the spine of cancer care in Vietnam, typically with out enough coaching or sources.
“This is not nearly serving to caregivers cope emotionally,” says Dr. Vu. “Building their resilience additionally improves affected person care, strengthens household assist, and enhances your entire well being care system.”
On common, caregivers scored 25.1 out of 40 on a resilience scale, with greater than half falling under the edge for low resilience. Higher resilience was linked to raised caregiving preparation, stronger household assist, and better high quality of life.
In contrast, these experiencing extra extreme despair or caring for sufferers throughout longer hospital stays reported considerably decrease resilience. Unexpectedly, caregiving burden confirmed a optimistic affiliation with resilience, seemingly reflecting Vietnam’s cultural emphasis on familial responsibility and emotional obligation.
“To assist household caregivers, we should implement routine psychological well being screenings and supply tailor-made counseling and hands-on coaching applications,” says Dr. Vu. “Health care services must also create caregiver-friendly environments—resembling designated relaxation zones and versatile visiting hours—to cut back burnout and strengthen resilience.”
This study is among the many first in Vietnam to discover how caregiving, psychological stress, and cultural expectations intersect in cancer care. The authors name for broader, multi-center analysis to deepen understanding and develop culturally related instruments for assessing caregiving burden and resilience. Their findings additionally supply vital insights for different low- and middle-income nations dealing with related caregiving challenges.
More data:
Thinh Toan Vu et al, Resilience and its affiliation with caregiving and psychosocial components amongst lung cancer caregivers in Vietnam, European Journal of Oncology Nursing (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2025.102932
Citation:
Vietnam’s hidden burden: Lung cancer caregivers face alarming low resilience ( 23)
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