OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the quality of life (QOL) and mental health (MH) of caregivers of patients with advanced cancer who are receiving ambulatory oncology care and associations with patient, caregiver and care-related characteristics. METHODS:Patients with advanced gastrointestinal, genitourinary, breast, lung or gynaecologic cancer, and their caregivers, were recruited from 24 medical oncology clinics for a cluster-randomized trial of early palliative care. Caregivers completed the Caregiver QOL--Cancer scale and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, version 2, and a questionnaire including care-related factors such as hours/day providing care and change in work situation. Patients completed a demographic questionnaire and measures of their QOL and symptom severity. Associations of these factors with caregiver QOL and MH were examined using linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 191 caregivers, 84% were spouses/partners, 90% cohabited with the patient, half were working and 25% had a change in work situation since the patient's diagnosis. On multiple regression analysis, better caregiver QOL was associated with better caregiver MH and patient physical well-being and with not providing care for other dependents. Worse caregiver MH was associated with female caregiver sex, worse patient emotional well-being, more hours spent caregiving and change in the caregiver's work situation. CONCLUSIONS:Caregivers of ambulatory patients with advanced cancer may have compromised QOL and MH associated with worse patient physical and emotional well-being and with simultaneously caring for others and working outside the home. Early palliative care interventions directed at patient symptoms and caregiver support may improve QOL in this population.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the quality of life (QOL) and mental health (MH) of caregivers of patients with advanced cancer who are receiving ambulatory oncology care and associations with patient, caregiver and care-related characteristics. METHODS:Patients with advanced gastrointestinal, genitourinary, breast, lung or gynaecologic cancer, and their caregivers, were recruited from 24 medical oncology clinics for a cluster-randomized trial of early palliative care. Caregivers completed the Caregiver QOL--Cancer scale and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, version 2, and a questionnaire including care-related factors such as hours/day providing care and change in work situation. Patients completed a demographic questionnaire and measures of their QOL and symptom severity. Associations of these factors with caregiver QOL and MH were examined using linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 191 caregivers, 84% were spouses/partners, 90% cohabited with the patient, half were working and 25% had a change in work situation since the patient's diagnosis. On multiple regression analysis, better caregiver QOL was associated with better caregiver MH and patient physical well-being and with not providing care for other dependents. Worse caregiver MH was associated with female caregiver sex, worse patient emotional well-being, more hours spent caregiving and change in the caregiver's work situation. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers of ambulatory patients with advanced cancer may have compromised QOL and MH associated with worse patient physical and emotional well-being and with simultaneously caring for others and working outside the home. Early palliative care interventions directed at patient symptoms and caregiver support may improve QOL in this population.
Authors: Lee A Kehoe; Huiwen Xu; Paul Duberstein; Kah Poh Loh; Eva Culakova; Beverly Canin; Arti Hurria; William Dale; Megan Wells; Nikesha Gilmore; Amber S Kleckner; Jennifer Lund; Charles Kamen; Marie Flannery; Mike Hoerger; Judith O Hopkins; Jane Jijun Liu; Jodi Geer; Ron Epstein; Supriya G Mohile Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2019-03-29 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Elizabeth R Kessler; Angela Moss; S Gail Eckhardt; Mark L Laudenslager; Kristin Kilbourn; Iris B Mauss; Daniel W Bowles; Sharon Hecker; Diane L Fairclough; Jean S Kutner Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2014-08-15 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Jamie M Jacobs; Kelly M Shaffer; Ryan D Nipp; Joel N Fishbein; James MacDonald; Areej El-Jawahri; William F Pirl; Vicki A Jackson; Elyse R Park; Jennifer S Temel; Joseph A Greer Journal: Ann Behav Med Date: 2017-08
Authors: Andrea L Cheville; Naveen S Murthy; Jeffrey R Basford; Peter S Rose; Kenny Tran; Thomas P Pittelkow; Michael D Ringler Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2015-10-03 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Rathi Mahendran; Haikel A Lim; Joanne Chua; Chao Xu Peh; Siew Eng Lim; Ee Heok Kua Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2014-08-06 Impact factor: 4.147