Gemme Campbell-Salome1,2, Carla L Fisher1, Kevin B Wright3, Greg Lincoln4, Allison J Applebaum5, Maria Sae-Hau6, Elisa S Weiss6, Carma L Bylund7. 1. College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 2. Department of Population Health Sciences, Genomic Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA. 3. Department of Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA. 4. P.K. Younge Developmental Research School, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA. 6. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Rye Brook, New York, USA. 7. Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of the family communication environment (conversation orientation) on adult child caregivers' burden and clinical interactions and if the effects are mediated by openness to communicate about cancer, avoidant cancer communication, and social support (SS). METHOD: Caregivers of a parent diagnosed with a blood cancer (N = 121) completed an online survey of validated measures of conversation orientation (i.e., the extent to which families openly communicate), SS, cancer openness, avoidance, caregiver burden, clinical communication skills, and quality of clinical interactions (QCI). RESULTS: Conversation orientation had significant indirect effects on caregiver burden, mediated by SS (β = -0.11, p < 0.001), as well as cancer openness and avoidance (β = -0.07, p < 0.001). Conversation orientation also had significant indirect effects on caregivers' communication skills with a parent's clinician, mediated by avoidance (β = 0.08, p < 0.01) and SS (β = 0.06, p < 0.001). Finally, conversation orientation had significant indirect effects on caregivers' QCI mediated by avoidance (β = 0.71, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adult child caregivers whose families communicate more openly exhibit less caregiver burden and report better clinical interaction skills and perceived quality of the clinical interaction. Avoidance emerged as a key mediating factor. Caregivers from less open communication environments may benefit from interventions that help them navigate challenging but critical caregiving conversations.
OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of the family communication environment (conversation orientation) on adult child caregivers' burden and clinical interactions and if the effects are mediated by openness to communicate about cancer, avoidant cancer communication, and social support (SS). METHOD: Caregivers of a parent diagnosed with a blood cancer (N = 121) completed an online survey of validated measures of conversation orientation (i.e., the extent to which families openly communicate), SS, cancer openness, avoidance, caregiver burden, clinical communication skills, and quality of clinical interactions (QCI). RESULTS: Conversation orientation had significant indirect effects on caregiver burden, mediated by SS (β = -0.11, p < 0.001), as well as cancer openness and avoidance (β = -0.07, p < 0.001). Conversation orientation also had significant indirect effects on caregivers' communication skills with a parent's clinician, mediated by avoidance (β = 0.08, p < 0.01) and SS (β = 0.06, p < 0.001). Finally, conversation orientation had significant indirect effects on caregivers' QCI mediated by avoidance (β = 0.71, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adult child caregivers whose families communicate more openly exhibit less caregiver burden and report better clinical interaction skills and perceived quality of the clinical interaction. Avoidance emerged as a key mediating factor. Caregivers from less open communication environments may benefit from interventions that help them navigate challenging but critical caregiving conversations.
Authors: Dannielle E Kelley; Erin E Kent; Kristin Litzelman; Michelle A Mollica; Julia H Rowland Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2019-05-08 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Ashley Leak Bryant; Allison M Deal; AnnMarie Walton; William A Wood; Hyman Muss; Deborah K Mayer Journal: Leuk Res Date: 2015-02-11 Impact factor: 3.156
Authors: Carla L Fisher; Michaela D Mullis; Amanda Kastrinos; Easton Wollney; Elisa S Weiss; Maria Sae-Hau; Carma L Bylund Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2020-10-13 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Carma L Bylund; Easton N Wollney; Gemme Campbell-Salome; Allison J Applebaum; Samantha R Paige; Kennan DeGruccio; Elisa Weiss; Maria Sae-Hau; Jason Arnold; Domenic Durante; Tithi B Amin; Chelsea N Hampton; Carla L Fisher Journal: JMIR Cancer Date: 2022-07-05