To explore the hope level of family caregivers of patients with cancer, and analyze its influencing factors.

From September to December 2017, the patients and their family caregivers in the Oncology Department of a ClassⅢ Grade A hospital in Harbin were selected as the research subjects by purposive sampling method. A sample of 276 family caregivers of patients with cancer were investigated with general information questionnaire and Herth Hope Index (HHI) . The influencing factors of hope level were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate stepwise regression analysis.

Totally 256 valid questionnaires were collected. The HHI score of the caregivers was (34.43±6.76) . Univariate analysis showed that there were statistical differences in HHI scores among caregivers of different ages, working conditions, conscious health status, conscious economic status, relationship with patients and cumulative length of care (t=3.037, 3.321, 2.634, 6.742, 2.764, 3.832; P<0.05) . The HHI scores of caregivers of cancer patients with different clinical stages were statistically different (t=5.345, P<0.05) . Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that the self-conscious economic status of caregivers, cumulative length of care, working status and clinical stages were the four factors affecting the level of hope of family caregivers of cancer patients.

The hope level of family caregivers of patients with cancer was at a moderate level and affected by several factors. Medical staff should prospectively evaluate caregivers' HHI level and explore interventions according to these factors in order to improve their hope level.

Neoplasms; Caregivers; Hope level; Influencing factors