本研究目的在探討癌症家屬照顧者於照顧期間所執行的照顧工作內容與困難。以質性研究法，自民國九十年二月至五月間，於北部某醫學中心之腫瘤科病房，採立意取樣，選取符合條件之受訪者，以半結構式訪談指引進行資料的蒐集，共訪得10位癌症家屬照顧者。訪談內容以錄音方式紀錄，於訪談結束後48小時內將錄音內容逐字轉譯成文字並輸入電腦，依據Miles和Huberman（1994）所提出之質性資料分析方法，將資料作有系統的分析及歸納。研究結果顯示癌症病患家屬照顧者之照顧工作內容可分為兩個類別：直接照顧工作及間接照顧工作。直接照顧工作包括：身體及心理上的照顧工作。間接照顧工作包括：社會及經濟上的照顧工作。在照顧工作困難上，依據困難形成的起源，分為三個類別：病人方面、照顧者方面、環境方面。本研究之研究結果可協助護理人員針對照顧工作上的問題設計出有效的護理措施，協助家屬面對與處理，減少照顧者因照顧困難而放棄照顧工作，以降低病患再度重返醫療機構的機會，進而提升整體性癌症家庭照顧之品質。

　　　　　The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the caregiving tasks and difficulties of family caregivers of cancer patients. Data were collected from 10 primary caregivers of cancer patients treated at a medical center in northern Taiwan from February to May, 2000. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data. Each interview was audio-taped and transcribed information was analyzed using content analysis technique described by Miles and Huberman (1994). Two categories, direct and indirect care, of caregiving tasks were identified. Direct care contained two subcategories, physical and mental care. Indirect care also had two subcategories, social and economic care. The reported caregiving difficulties were classified by their sources. Three aspects of caregiving difficulty were identified, including patient related, caregiver related, and environment related difficulties. The findings of this study provide information for nurses in caring of cancer patients and their family caregivers.