1
|
Mbozi P, Mukwato PK, Kalusopa VM, Simoonga C. Experiences and coping strategies of women caring for their husbands with cancer at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia: a descriptive phenomenological approach. Ecancermedicalscience 2023; 17:1572. [PMID: 37533947 PMCID: PMC10393314 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2023.1572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) 2019 annual report revealed an upsurge in the number of new cancer patients accessing services from 35 patients in 2006 to 3,008 in 2019. This study explored the experiences and coping strategies of women caring for their husbands with cancer attending the CDH. A phenomenological research design was used with stratified purposeful sampling. Data were collected using an interview schedule and analysed using thematic analysis. The women's challenges included mobility difficulties and hospital admissions/problems; socio-economic problems, psychological and emotional distress; and caregiving liability and spiritual anguish. The benefits that female spouses experienced during caring for their loved ones included knowledge about cancer and infection prevention, a strong marital relationship, tolerance and perseverance, resilience and hope and good relationship with other caregivers. The women's needs included financial support, physical needs, psychosocial counselling, caregiver accommodation, time off from caregiving, information needs and sexual intimacy and contact. Their coping strategies included spiritual support from spiritual carers, prayer and meditation, music and storytelling, social support and a good marital relationship. The findings demonstrate that wives of patients with cancer experience many challenges in their caring journey. Nurses must anticipate and/or intervene as part of their nursing practice to reduce the negative impact on female caretakers in this situation. Hospital standard operating procedures must be developed to put both the patients and their caregivers at the centre of oncology nursing care, particularly in settings with limited allied professional support, e.g., psychologists. Caretaker coping strategies highlighted in this study must be made available for both the patients and their wives, e.g., linking wives to trained spiritual carers upon their husband's admission to the hospital, to aid a smooth caregiving experience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patience Mbozi
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Chreso University, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | - Patricia Katowa Mukwato
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | - Victoria Mwiinga Kalusopa
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yang MJ, Yepez VV, Brandon KO, Reblin M, Pidala J, Jim HSL, Meyer JS, Gore LR, Khera N, Lau P, Sauls RM, Jones SR, Vinci C. A mindfulness-based stress management program for caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) patients: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266316. [PMID: 35363799 PMCID: PMC8975158 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) cancer patients experience high caregiver burden and carry a significant amount of responsibility. Mindfulness has the potential to lessen caregiver burden by aiding in stress management. To date, no studies have examined the efficacy of mindfulness in reducing caregiver burden in this population. Based on our pilot study demonstrating initial feasibility and acceptability of FOCUS (Focusing On mindfulness for Caregivers Under Stress), this 3-arm randomized controlled trial aims to examine the efficacy of a 6-week mindfulness-based stress management program for allogeneic HCT caregivers. Hypotheses include that the FOCUS condition will have lower post-treatment caregiver burden and that patients of these caregivers will have better patient health outcomes compared to other treatment conditions. Method Eligible caregivers will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: FOCUS, Healthy Living (HL; active control), and Enhanced Care (EC; usual care). Caregivers in FOCUS and HL will participate in 6-week weekly individual treatment sessions and will be sent brief daily momentary interventions/messages. Caregivers in all conditions will complete daily diaries over the course of treatment. Patients of enrolled caregivers will be enrolled for assessments only. Participants will complete assessments at baseline, end of treatment, 2- and 6-months post-treatment. Biomarker data will be collected via hair cortisol concentrations from caregivers at baseline and 6 months post-treatment. Results Recruitment is ongoing. Conclusions The data collected from this study will provide evidence on the efficacy of mindfulness in alleviating HCT caregiver stress and impacting patient health outcomes. Trial registration The current study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05078229); see https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05078229?term=christine+vinci&draw=2&rank=1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min-Jeong Yang
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Valerie V. Yepez
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Karen O. Brandon
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Maija Reblin
- College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Joseph Pidala
- Department of Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Heather S. L. Jim
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jerrold S. Meyer
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - L. Robert Gore
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Nandita Khera
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
- College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Penny Lau
- Department of Social Work, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Rachel M. Sauls
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Sarah R. Jones
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Christine Vinci
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vinci C, Pidala J, Lau P, Reblin M, Jim H. A mindfulness-based intervention for caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: Pilot results. Psychooncology 2020; 29:934-937. [PMID: 32043667 DOI: 10.1002/pon.5353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Despite high levels of stress, there are few empirically supported stress management interventions for caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) cancer patients. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and various stress-related outcomes from pre- to post-treatment of a pilot, single-arm trial of a 6-week mindfulness-based intervention (FOCUS) for stress management. Caregivers (N = 21; 76% female; mean age = 57.43) were enrolled prior to patient transplant and received FOCUS during the first 90 days post-transplant. Findings indicated that FOCUS was highly feasible and acceptable (e.g., 71% attended at least four of six sessions; 100% reported using the skills learned at follow-up; high treatment engagement). Significant increases in mindfulness, post-traumatic growth, and general mental health were observed, along with significant decreases in negative affect (all ps < .05).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Vinci
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.,Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, University of South Florida
| | - Joseph Pidala
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.,Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, University of South Florida
| | - Penny Lau
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Maija Reblin
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.,Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, University of South Florida
| | - Heather Jim
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.,Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, University of South Florida
| |
Collapse
|