Katherine R Sterba1, Kent Armeson2, Jane Zapka2, Elizabeth Garrett-Mayer2, Megan L Scallion2, Tiffany K Wall3, Jama Olsen2, Evan M Graboyes2,3, Anthony J Alberg4, Terry A Day3. 1. Department of Public Health Sciences and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 68 President Street, MSC 955, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA. sterba@musc.edu. 2. Department of Public Health Sciences and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 68 President Street, MSC 955, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA. 3. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 87 Jonathan Lucas Street MSC 955, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street Room 465, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and caregivers face significant challenges after treatment. This study's objective was to evaluate the effects of a dyadic survivorship care planning (SCP) intervention on survivor and caregiver outcomes. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial enrolled HNC survivors and caregivers within 18 months post-treatment, randomized dyads to SCP (one-session with written SCP and follow-up telephone call) or usual care and administered baseline and 6-month surveys. Multivariable linear regression examined intervention effects on depression and unmet needs in dyads and burden on caregiverss and a set of secondary outcomes. Rating scales and open-ended questions assessed acceptability. RESULTS: We randomized 89 survivor-caregiver dyads (42 usual care, 47 SCP dyads). Fidelity to SCP was high for most survivorship domains except discussing care barriers (13%). The most commonly discussed referrals included nutrition (83%) and behavioral medicine (38%), but referral uptake was low. The SCP intervention did not improve depression or unmet needs among dyads or burden among caregivers at 6 months relative to usual care (p's > .05). Nurses and dyads rated SCP favorably with > 80% positive ratings for session length and care plan content. Qualitative findings highlighted that SCP helped consolidate complex clinical information and strengthened survivor-caregiver-clinician relationships. CONCLUSIONS: An HNC SCP intervention was acceptable but ineffective in improving dyads' outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Post-treatment SCP in HNC dyads was ineffective in improving outcomes in survivors and caregivers as delivered in this study. More research is needed to understand how to capitalize on the acceptability of the SCP approach and enhance its effectiveness to support dyads.
PURPOSE: Head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and caregivers face significant challenges after treatment. This study's objective was to evaluate the effects of a dyadic survivorship care planning (SCP) intervention on survivor and caregiver outcomes. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial enrolled HNC survivors and caregivers within 18 months post-treatment, randomized dyads to SCP (one-session with written SCP and follow-up telephone call) or usual care and administered baseline and 6-month surveys. Multivariable linear regression examined intervention effects on depression and unmet needs in dyads and burden on caregiverss and a set of secondary outcomes. Rating scales and open-ended questions assessed acceptability. RESULTS: We randomized 89 survivor-caregiver dyads (42 usual care, 47 SCP dyads). Fidelity to SCP was high for most survivorship domains except discussing care barriers (13%). The most commonly discussed referrals included nutrition (83%) and behavioral medicine (38%), but referral uptake was low. The SCP intervention did not improve depression or unmet needs among dyads or burden among caregivers at 6 months relative to usual care (p's > .05). Nurses and dyads rated SCP favorably with > 80% positive ratings for session length and care plan content. Qualitative findings highlighted that SCP helped consolidate complex clinical information and strengthened survivor-caregiver-clinician relationships. CONCLUSIONS: An HNC SCP intervention was acceptable but ineffective in improving dyads' outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Post-treatment SCP in HNC dyads was ineffective in improving outcomes in survivors and caregivers as delivered in this study. More research is needed to understand how to capitalize on the acceptability of the SCP approach and enhance its effectiveness to support dyads.
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