Sylvie Lambert1, Afaf Girgis2, Joseph Descallar3, Janelle V Levesque2, Bobby Jones4. 1. Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; St. Mary's Research Centre, Montreal, Canada; Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: sylvie.lambert@mcgill.ca. 2. Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia. 3. Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia. 4. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Identify the trajectories of physical and mental functioning among spouse caregivers of patients with cancer over the first five years post-diagnosis and variables associated with low or deteriorating functioning. METHODS: Caregivers completed a survey at 6 months and 1, 2, 3.5, and 5 years post-patient diagnosis, including the SF-12 for quality of life (QOL). SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS, n=299) and Physical Component Summary (PCS, n=300) scores were analyzed using SAS. RESULTS: Five trajectories for PCS were identified, the top three were: (a) high PCS (53.0%); (b) steady decline in PCS (17.0%); and (c) steady increase, but remaining below population norm (16.7%). Five trajectories for MCS were also identified, the top two being: (a) high MCS (45.8%) and (b) MCS comparable to population norm (27.8%). Variables associated with low or deteriorating QOL included depression, social support, coping, burden, and/or unmet needs. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to document spouse caregivers' QOL over the first five years post-patient diagnosis. Although many participants experienced high functioning, almost a third reported low or deteriorating mental or physical functioning. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Variables associated with low or deteriorating mental and physical functioning can be targeted in future interventions.
OBJECTIVE: Identify the trajectories of physical and mental functioning among spouse caregivers of patients with cancer over the first five years post-diagnosis and variables associated with low or deteriorating functioning. METHODS: Caregivers completed a survey at 6 months and 1, 2, 3.5, and 5 years post-patient diagnosis, including the SF-12 for quality of life (QOL). SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS, n=299) and Physical Component Summary (PCS, n=300) scores were analyzed using SAS. RESULTS: Five trajectories for PCS were identified, the top three were: (a) high PCS (53.0%); (b) steady decline in PCS (17.0%); and (c) steady increase, but remaining below population norm (16.7%). Five trajectories for MCS were also identified, the top two being: (a) high MCS (45.8%) and (b) MCS comparable to population norm (27.8%). Variables associated with low or deteriorating QOL included depression, social support, coping, burden, and/or unmet needs. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to document spouse caregivers' QOL over the first five years post-patient diagnosis. Although many participants experienced high functioning, almost a third reported low or deteriorating mental or physical functioning. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Variables associated with low or deteriorating mental and physical functioning can be targeted in future interventions.
Authors: Nik Nairan Abdullah; Idayu Badilla Idris; Khadijah Shamsuddin; Nik Muhd Aslan Abdullah Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2019-07-29 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Allison J Applebaum; Laura C Polacek; Leah Walsh; Anne S Reiner; Kathleen Lynch; Stephanie Benvengo; Justin Buthorn; Thomas M Atkinson; Jun J Mao; Katherine S Panageas; Eli L Diamond Journal: Leuk Lymphoma Date: 2020-02-24
Authors: Sarah-May Blaschke; Sylvie D Lambert; Patricia M Livingston; Sanchia Aranda; Anna Boltong; Penelope Schofield; Suzanne K Chambers; Meinir Krishnasamy; Anna Ugalde Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-02-13 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Sylvie D Lambert; Lindsay R Duncan; Janet Ellis; John Wellesley Robinson; Carly Sears; Nicole Culos-Reed; Andrew Matthew; Manon De Raad; Jamie Lynn Schaffler; Daniel Santa Mina; Paramita Saha-Chaudhuri; Helen McTaggart-Cowan; Stuart Peacock Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2021-03-20
Authors: Normarie Torres Blasco; Rosario Costas Muñiz; Carolina Zamore; Laura Porter; Maria Claros; Guillermo Bernal; Megan Johnson Shen; William Breitbart; E M Castro Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-04-04 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Sylvie Lambert; Lydia Ould Brahim; Jane McCusker; Chelsea Coumoundouros; Li-Anne Audet; Mark Yaffe; John Kayser; Mona Magalhaes; Eric Belzile; Nerida Turner Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2021-06-22 Impact factor: 6.473
Authors: Maria C Katapodi; Katrina R Ellis; Franziska Schmidt; Christos Nikolaidis; Laurel L Northouse Journal: Cancer Med Date: 2018-09-05 Impact factor: 4.452