Poster Presentation 2025 National Cancer Survivorship Conference

“Anything to help you, that’s all”: A reflexive thematic analysis identifying recommendations for designing and conducting qualitative research with cancer caregivers (#60)

Katelyn Collins 1 2 , Fiona Crawford-Williams 3 4 , Chris Sibthorpe 1 , Belinda Goodwin 1 5 6 , Elizabeth (Lizzy) Johnston 1 7 8
  1. Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  2. School of Psychology and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, QLD, Australia
  3. College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
  4. McGrath Foundation, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  5. Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, QLD, Australia
  6. School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  7. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
  8. Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia

Background: There is increasing need to improve access to person-centred support for cancer caregivers (i.e., family and friends who provide vital, unpaid support for cancer survivors). Qualitative research methods can gather rich insights into caregivers’ lived experiences, providing important information about their unique needs, preferences, and experiences of accessing support. This secondary analysis of a qualitative interview study with cancer caregivers therefore aimed to understand how the design and conduct of interviews can be optimised to centre caregivers’ voices and lived experiences.  

Methods: This analysis used data from 20 semi-structured interviews with cancer caregivers about how caring for someone with cancer while living in a rural area has affected their health and wellbeing, and their experiences accessing support for themselves. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to explore underlying patterns in how the interview was conducted and how caregivers shared their needs and experiences.  

Results: Three themes were developed: 1) cancer caregivers’ health and wellbeing is inherently linked to the health and wellbeing of the survivor, 2) question wording and design can perpetuate the ‘patient focus’ that cancer caregivers experience in other settings, and 3) participating in qualitative research can be a meaningful experience for cancer caregivers and provide an avenue for connection with community-based supports. 

Conclusion: When designing and conducting qualitative research with cancer caregivers, researchers should include questions which explore dyadic interactions between caregivers and survivors, as well as individual coping behaviours. Practicing reflexivity can increase researchers’ awareness of implicit biases that inform the design and conduct of their research, such as questions that inadvertently shift the focus to the patient and their needs rather than the caregiver. Finally, qualitative interviews provide a meaningful opportunity for caregivers to share their stories; with deeply personal information often disclosed, researchers should be equipped to respond with empathy and provide referrals to support when needed.