| dc.description.abstract | Cancer patients face significant physical, emotional, and psychological challenges that impact their
overall health, indicating unmet need for psychosocial support. Lack of psychological support
worsens the well-being of cancer parents, and complicates medical treatment and recovery. Many
oncology clinics lack sufficient mechanisms for engaging family members in helping patients
navigate psychosocial challenges. Unfortunately, this undermines efforts by the Ministry of Health,
which allocates resources and deploys qualified personnel for cancer management. In seeking
solutions to this situation, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of family counselling on the
psychological well-being of cancer patients attending oncology clinics in Meru County, Kenya.
The study was anchored on social cognitive theory and utilized a convergent survey research
design. The target population comprised 2580 cancer patients, 2580 caregivers and 53 clinicians;
out of which 335 cancer patients, 40 caregivers and six clinicians were sampled. Questionnaires,
interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect data. The study adopted systematic,
random and purposive sampling techniques in selecting subjects. Data collection tools were
questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Reliability and validity were established
accordingly. Descriptive and inferential statistics analyses were applied to quantitative data, while
thematic analysis was used on qualitative data. Findings indicated that family counselling
significantly reduced stigma, increased cancer knowledge and understanding, and consequently
improved the psychological well-being of patients. The study recommended integration of family
counselling into oncology clinics owing to its value in addressing family dynamics, enhancing
decision-making, harmony, emotional, social, nutritional, financial and spiritual wellbeing, and as
well as other dimensions linked to cancer patient welfare. Clinicians, psychologists, and caregivers
should prioritize a holistic approach in family counselling, encompassing comprehensive family
involvement, continuous family members empowerment, coordinated decision-making, and
family-tailored counselling sessions. Policies should prioritize adequate resources, cultural
competence training, integrated family-centered services, and inter-professional collaborations to
address challenges undermining cancer patients' psychological well-being. | en_US |
