Korean American Patients' and Family Caregivers' Sources of Social Support and Perceptions of Cancer and the Caregiving Role: A Theory-Driven Qualitative Study.

This study focuses on understanding the sources of social support and perceptions of cancer and caregiving roles among Korean American patients with cancer and their family caregivers, using the sociocultural stress and coping model. Findings from interviews with 12 patient–caregiver dyads revealed that patients primarily received support from Korean-language cancer support programs, family (notably adult children), friends, and religion, while caregivers mainly relied on religion and friends, with many lacking social support. Patients initially held negative views of cancer but gradually accepted their illness through coping resources, whereas caregivers often perceived their role as an obligatory family responsibility, though some viewed it as an opportunity to give back. The study highlights the importance of culturally and linguistically tailored support programs to enhance quality of life for both patients and caregivers within racial and ethnic minority groups.