Courtney C Junkins1, Erin Kent2, Kristin Litzelman3, Margaret Bevans4, Rachel S Cannady5, Abby R Rosenberg1,6,7. 1. Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA. 2. Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. 3. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 4. Office of Research on Women's Heath, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. 5. Cancer Control Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 6. Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA. 7. Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Abstract
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Approximately 2.8 million Americans care for an individual with cancer. Because the literature typically describes caregiving experiences within patient age-groups (e.g., pediatrics, geriatrics), the purpose of this narrative review was to describe common and unique burdens and distress among caregivers of cancer-patients of different ages. LITERATURE SEARCH: We identified representative peer-reviewed manuscripts related to caregivers of pediatric, adolescent, young-, middle-, and late-adult oncology patients. We combined search terms "caregiver" and "cancer" with "burden," "distress," and/or age-related terms ("pediatric" or "geriatric"). Included studies focused on factors of caregiver-burden and distress. DATA EVALUATION/SYNTHESIS: Universal cancer-caregiving experiences include negative impacts on work-productivity, finances, social-/family-dynamics, and physical/emotional health. Age-related life experiences shape outcomes; pediatric caregivers may have fewer financial resources, whereas concurrent comorbidities create challenges for geriatric caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiving for cancer patients has universal, shared, and patient age-specific burdens. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Supportive care based on patient-age may improve caregiver well-being.
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Approximately 2.8 million Americans care for an individual with cancer. Because the literature typically describes caregiving experiences within patient age-groups (e.g., pediatrics, geriatrics), the purpose of this narrative review was to describe common and unique burdens and distress among caregivers of cancer-patients of different ages. LITERATURE SEARCH: We identified representative peer-reviewed manuscripts related to caregivers of pediatric, adolescent, young-, middle-, and late-adult oncology patients. We combined search terms "caregiver" and "cancer" with "burden," "distress," and/or age-related terms ("pediatric" or "geriatric"). Included studies focused on factors of caregiver-burden and distress. DATA EVALUATION/SYNTHESIS: Universal cancer-caregiving experiences include negative impacts on work-productivity, finances, social-/family-dynamics, and physical/emotional health. Age-related life experiences shape outcomes; pediatric caregivers may have fewer financial resources, whereas concurrent comorbidities create challenges for geriatric caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiving for cancerpatients has universal, shared, and patient age-specific burdens. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Supportive care based on patient-age may improve caregiver well-being.
Entities:
Keywords:
cancer; caregiver; geriatric; pediatric; psychosocial outcome; quality of life
Authors: Danielle Catona; Kathryn Greene; Maria K Venetis; Allyson C Bontempo; Alexandre Buckley de Meritens; Katie A Devine Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2022-06-15 Impact factor: 3.359
Authors: Abby R Rosenberg; Chuan Zhou; Miranda C Bradford; Krysta Barton; Courtney C Junkins; Mallory Taylor; Erin K Kross; J Randall Curtis; J Nicholas Dionne-Odom; Joyce P Yi-Frazier Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2021-03-15 Impact factor: 2.947