Christine Paul1,2, Alix Hall3,4, Christopher Oldmeadow5, Marita Lynagh3,4, Sharon Campbell6, Ken Bradstock7, Anna Williamson8, Mariko Carey3,4, Rob Sanson-Fisher3,4. 1. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Chris.Paul@newcastle.edu.au. 2. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia. Chris.Paul@newcastle.edu.au. 3. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. 4. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia. 5. Clinical Research Design Information Technology and Statistical Support, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia. 6. School of Public Health and Health Systems, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada. 7. Westmead Clinical School & The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia. 8. The Leukaemia Foundation, Windsor, QLD, Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the dyadic relationships between unmet need, depression, and anxiety in people diagnosed with haematological cancer and their support persons. METHODS: Adult survivors (18 years+) who had been diagnosed with a haematological cancer were recruited to a cross-sectional mailed survey via five state cancer registries in Australia. Participating survivors invited a support person to also complete a survey. Structural equation modelling was used to explore the relationships among survivor and support person self-reported depression, anxiety, and unmet needs. RESULTS: Of the 4299 eligible haematological cancer survivors contacted by the registries, 1511 (35%) returned a completed survey as did 1004 support persons. There were 787 dyads with complete data. After adjusting for age, gender, rurality, cancer type, and whether the support person was a relative, positive correlations were found between survivor and support person scores for depression (p = 0.0029) and unmet needs (p < 0.001), but not anxiety scores (p = 0.075). Survivor unmet needs were significantly related to support person depression (p = 0.0036). Support person unmet needs were significantly related to a higher depression score for survivors (p = 0.0067). Greater support person unmet needs were significantly related to a higher anxiety score for survivors (p = 0.0083). Survivor unmet needs did not have a significant relationship to support person anxiety (p = 0.78). CONCLUSION: Unmet needs may mediate the interdependence of psychosocial experiences for survivors and support persons, although a longitudinal study is required to confirm causality. Addressing unmet needs may be a potential target for improving outcomes for both groups.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the dyadic relationships between unmet need, depression, and anxiety in people diagnosed with haematological cancer and their support persons. METHODS: Adult survivors (18 years+) who had been diagnosed with a haematological cancer were recruited to a cross-sectional mailed survey via five state cancer registries in Australia. Participating survivors invited a support person to also complete a survey. Structural equation modelling was used to explore the relationships among survivor and support person self-reported depression, anxiety, and unmet needs. RESULTS: Of the 4299 eligible haematological cancer survivors contacted by the registries, 1511 (35%) returned a completed survey as did 1004 support persons. There were 787 dyads with complete data. After adjusting for age, gender, rurality, cancer type, and whether the support person was a relative, positive correlations were found between survivor and support person scores for depression (p = 0.0029) and unmet needs (p < 0.001), but not anxiety scores (p = 0.075). Survivor unmet needs were significantly related to support persondepression (p = 0.0036). Support person unmet needs were significantly related to a higher depression score for survivors (p = 0.0067). Greater support person unmet needs were significantly related to a higher anxiety score for survivors (p = 0.0083). Survivor unmet needs did not have a significant relationship to support personanxiety (p = 0.78). CONCLUSION: Unmet needs may mediate the interdependence of psychosocial experiences for survivors and support persons, although a longitudinal study is required to confirm causality. Addressing unmet needs may be a potential target for improving outcomes for both groups.
Authors: H Sharon Campbell; Rob Sanson-Fisher; Donna Turner; Lynda Hayward; X Sunny Wang; Jill Taylor-Brown Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2010-01-23 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: H Sharon Campbell; Rob Sanson-Fisher; Jill Taylor-Brown; Lynda Hayward; X Sunny Wang; Donna Turner Journal: Cancer Date: 2009-07-15 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: L E Carlson; M Angen; J Cullum; E Goodey; J Koopmans; L Lamont; J H MacRae; M Martin; G Pelletier; J Robinson; J S A Simpson; M Speca; L Tillotson; B D Bultz Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2004-06-14 Impact factor: 7.640