Caregiving in heart failure: relationship quality is associated with caregiver benefit finding and caregiver burden

A Feasibility Study of Qualitative Methods Using the Zarit Burden Interview in Heart Failure Caregivers

OBJECTIVES

The primary goal of this study was to identify and understand the burden experienced by informal caregivers of patients with HF at the time of hospital discharge. The researchers aimed to guide future education interventions and promote informal caregiver burden screening.

DESIGN

The researchers administered the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) as a quantitative tool to assess informal caregiver burden. The ZBI is a standardized questionnaire used to measure the extent of burden experienced by informal caregivers. After administering the ZBI, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with five informal caregivers of patients with HF. These interviews were guided by probing questions related to ZBI items that were rated with high levels of burden (3 "quite frequently" or 4 "nearly always").

RESULTS

The quantitative data showed that the informal caregivers' burden scores on the ZBI ranged from 4 to 41. Male informal caregivers tended to report lower burden scores. The non-spouse informal caregiver had the highest burden score at 41. The qualitative analysis of the interviews revealed several themes related to informal caregiver burden, including fear, patient expectations, patient dependence on caregivers, social isolation, and stressors associated with medication changes after discharge. Despite the qualitative insights into specific burden-related issues, the quantitative analysis of the ZBI scores showed that, on average, informal caregivers reported little to no burden at the time of acute exacerbation of HF in the patient.

CONCLUSION

The study's findings suggest that while informal caregivers may not report prominent levels of overall burden, they do face specific challenges and stressors, such as social isolation and managing medication changes post-discharge. These findings can inform the development of targeted support and interventions for informal caregivers of patients with HF.

Predictors of the quality of the relationship between informal caregiver and care recipient in informal caregiving of older people: presentation and evaluation of a new item

BACKGROUND

An important factor that has not been directly addressed very often in caregiver (CG) counseling to date is the quality of the relationship between the CG and the care recipient (CR). One reason is the lack of availability of a suitable assessment tool that is not strongly influenced by social desirability. Here, we present and evaluate a new item for the assessment of relationship quality (RQ) in the context of informal caregiving of older people.

METHODS

N = 962 informal caregivers of older people participated. Our item assessed RQ by providing three answer categories (positive, neutral, and negative) that were presented through the use of smiley faces. For evaluation, and to avoid bias due to social desirability, the neutral and negative categories were combined. We calculated a stepwise binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Expected associations with the variables care burden, perceived positive aspects, and care motivation were found (all p values < 0.01). An exploratory analysis revealed that additional predictors of RQ consisted of the CR's age as well as whether the CR's diagnosis was dementia, CG's amount of dysfunctional coping, and whether the CG was caring for more than one CR.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that our item is well-suited for the assessment of RQ in the context of informal caregiving of older people. Because it uses language-free answer categories by means of smiley faces, our item can be applied easily. Bias due to social desirability can be minimized by dichotomization (i.e., combining the negative and neural answer categories). In future research, our tool should be evaluated in other contexts.

Association Between Benefit Finding and Self-care Management in Heart Failure Patient-Caregiver Dyads: The Mediating Role of Mutuality

BACKGROUND

Inadequate self-care management has been reported in patients with heart failure (HF) and their family caregivers. However, evidence on the influencing factors and corresponding action paths for self-care management within a dyadic context is limited.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine dyadic associations between benefit finding and self-care management in HF patient-caregiver dyads and the mediating role of mutuality in these associations.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in China, and a convenience sample of 253 HF patient-caregiver dyads was included in the analysis. Dyadic benefit finding and mutuality, patients' self-care management, and caregivers' contributions to self-care management were measured using self-reported questionnaires. The actor-partner interdependence model and actor-partner interdependence mediation model were adopted to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Patients' benefit finding had an actor effect on their own self-care management (β = 0.134, P < .05) and a partner effect on caregivers' contributions to self-care management (β = 0.130, P < .05). Similarly, caregivers' benefit finding had an actor effect on their contributions to self-care management (β = 0.316, P < .01) and a partner effect on patients' self-care management (β = 0.187, P < .01). Moreover, patients' mutuality completely mediated the actor effect of their benefit finding on self-care management (β = 0.127; 95% confidence interval, 0.032-0.233), and caregivers' mutuality partially mediated the actor effect of their benefit finding on contributions to self-care management (β = 0.060; 95% confidence interval, 0.012-0.124). In addition, caregivers' mutuality completely mediated the partner effect of patients' benefit finding on caregivers' contributions to self-care management (β = 0.036; 95% confidence interval, 0.009-0.081).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings revealed the importance of benefit finding and mutuality, 2 modifiable factors positively associated with dyadic HF self-care management. Dyadic interventions targeting on enhancing benefit finding and mutuality should be designed and implemented to improve HF self-care management.

Relationship Status and Quality Are Associated With Perceived Benefits of Caregiving for People With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

"Benefit finding" is a strengths-based strategy for coping with medical illness that may be particularly useful for caregivers of people with heart failure given the highly fluctuating disease course.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate benefit finding's association with the caregiver-care recipient relationship, depression, and burden at baseline and longitudinally.

METHODS

This is a longitudinal observational study of caregivers' benefit finding, relationship quality, depression, and burden. Correlation and multiple regression analyses identify baseline associations and predictors of 12-month change in benefit finding.

RESULTS

At baseline (n = 100; median, 60 years [interquartile range, 46-69]; 81% female, 70% partner/spouse), increased benefit finding correlated with higher relationship quality (r = 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38-0.67), lower depression (r = -0.33; 95% CI, -0.49 to -0.14), and lower burden (r = -0.31; 95% CI, -0.47 to -0.11). Twelve-month change in benefit finding was predicted by change in relationship quality (ß = 7.12; 95% CI, 0.62-13.61) but not depression or burden.

CONCLUSIONS

Relationship quality and benefit finding changed together over time. Interventions strengthening the caregiver-care recipient bond may be especially impactful for heart failure caregivers.

Impact of Caring for Individuals With Heart Failure in the United States: A Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Given the functional impairments and complex care routines associated with heart failure (HF), patients often rely on the support of informal caregivers. Although the importance of caregivers' roles is widely recognized, the intensity and time required for care duties may negatively impact caregiver health and well-being, potentially precipitating their own need for care.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to synthesize estimates of economic, clinical, burden, and health-related quality-of-life impact among caregivers of those with HF in the United States.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to identify studies reporting estimates of caregiver impact. Abstract and full-text review as well as data extraction were performed according to established guidelines. Patient and caregiver characteristics were summarized, as well as estimates of impact of caring for those with HF.

RESULTS

From 3680 abstracts, 44 studies reporting caregiver burden estimates were included. Mean caregiver age ranged from 41.4 to 71.4 years; caregivers were primarily female (range, 49%-100%) and the patient's spouse/partner (21%-100%). Time spent caregiving (6 studies) ranged from 2 to 52 h/wk, and depression was identified in up to 40% of caregivers (9 studies). Numerous instruments were used to measure burden, which consistently documented the high impact of caregiving.

CONCLUSIONS

This review demonstrates the multifaceted impact of caregiving for patients with HF. Despite limited data, notable findings included the considerable burden to caregivers, variability in time spent caregiving, and frequent experience of depression among caregivers, possibly leading to increased healthcare resource use. Future research is needed to better characterize the caregiving impact in HF, including evaluating the drivers of burden.

Recognizing and Appreciating the Partner's Support Protects Relationship Satisfaction during Cardiac Illness

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to examine whether dyadic coping (DC) is associated with relationship satisfaction (RS) among couples facing cardiac diseases. Furthermore, the moderating role of both partners' anxiety and depression was tested.

METHODS

One hundred cardiac patients (81.5% men) and their partners (81.5% women) completed a self-report questionnaire during hospitalization. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) and moderation analyses were used to assess the above associations.

RESULTS

Results showed that positive DC was significantly related to higher levels of RS, and negative DC was related to lower levels of RS. Furthermore, patient and partner psychological distress significantly moderated the link between DC and RS: patient-perceived positive DC was associated with higher partner RS when partner depression was high; partner-perceived positive DC was associated with higher patient RS when patient anxiety was low; patient-perceived negative DC has associated with lower patient RS when patient anxiety and depression were high.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that positive DC is associated with a more satisfying relationship and identified under what conditions of cardiac-related distress this can happen. Furthermore, this study underlined the importance of examining DC in addition to the individual coping skills as a process pertaining to personal well-being and couple's outcomes.

Feasibility of a Multi-Component Strengths-Building Intervention for Caregivers of Persons With Heart Failure

Caregivers of persons with heart failure (HF) navigate complex care plans, yet support strategies often focus solely on meeting the needs of patients. We conducted a randomized waitlist control trial (N = 38) to test the feasibility and gauge initial effect size of the Caregiver Support intervention on quality of life, caregiver burden, and self-efficacy among HF caregivers. The intervention includes up to five remote, nurse-facilitated sessions. Components address: holistic caregiver assessment, life purpose, action planning, resources, and future planning. Caregivers were 93.3% female, 60% White, and 63.3% spouses. Average age was 59.4. Participants who completed the intervention reported high satisfaction and acceptability of activities. Between-group effect sizes at 16 and 32 weeks suggest improvement in quality of life (mental health) (.88; 1.08), caregiver burden (.31; .37), and self-efficacy (.63; .74). Caregivers found Caregiver Support acceptable and feasible. Findings contribute evidence that this intervention can enhance caregiver outcomes. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT04090749.

The Role of Palliative Care in Heart Failure, Part 2: Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Outpatient Palliative Care Evaluation for Advanced Cardiac Therapies

Background: Characteristics of patients undergoing outpatient evaluation for advanced cardiac therapies are largely unknown. Objective: To describe demographics, baseline quality of life, and frailty of patients undergoing evaluation for advanced therapies at the time of presentation for evaluation in an outpatient cardiac palliative care clinic and examine key quality of life differences across patients. Design: Retrospective chart review to report baseline demographics and quality of life. Settings/Subjects: Patients at a large academic medical center in the United States referred for advanced cardiac therapies in 2021. Measurements: Depression and anxiety were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; quality of life was measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative care (FACIT-Pal) tool; and frailty was measured using the Fried Frailty Phenotype. Differences in quality of life by disease etiology, demographic characteristics, and frailty were assessed. Results: Fifty-four patients were seen in the outpatient cardiac palliative care clinic for advanced therapy evaluation. Most were Caucasian (80%) and male (74%). Patients traveled an average of 61 minutes to the clinic. All but five lived in a rural, medically underserved, or health professional shortage area. Forty percent scored abnormal or borderline abnormal for anxiety; 22% scored abnormal or borderline abnormal for depression. The FACIT-Pal mean score was 129 (standard deviation 23), with emotional and functional well-being domains contributing most to poor quality of life. Seventy-one percent were frail. Patients with a nonischemic etiology had a 3.32 times higher rate of anxiety than nonischemic patients (95% confidence interval = 1.05-10.54, p = 0.041). Conclusion: As patients undergoing transplant evaluation have high levels of depression, anxiety, and frailty, interdisciplinary care teams will be needed to properly manage the needs of this complex population. These results can inform efforts to integrate palliative care into advanced cardiac therapy and improve patients' experiences.

Better together: Relationship quality and mental health among cardiac patients and spouses

Reductions in marital relationship quality are pervasive post-cardiac event. It is not yet understood how relationship quality is linked to mental health outcomes in couples where one member has established cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the interdependence within dyads is seldom measured. This research is required as psychological distress has been independently linked to CVD incidence, morbidity, and mortality. This study assessed associations of relationship quality with depression and anxiety among patients with CVD and their spouses. Participants completed questionnaires measuring four dimensions of relationship quality and mental health. Data were analyzed using an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model with hierarchical moderation analyses. 181 dyads (N = 362 participants) comprised the study sample. Most patients had coronary artery disease (66.3%) and 25.9% were female. Patients reported higher relationship satisfaction and fewer anxiety symptoms than did spouses. Patients and spouses with high dyadic consensus and affectional expression reported fewer mental health symptoms, but only when the other partner also perceived high levels of consensus and affectional expression in the relationship. Patients and spouses with low dyadic cohesion reported worse mental health symptoms (actor effects), but those effects were no longer significant when both the patient and the spouse appraised the relationship as having high levels of dyadic cohesion. Taken together, relationship quality is linked to mental health symptoms in patients with CVD and their spouses. Longitudinal and experimental studies are now warranted to further substantiate the cross-sectional findings of this study.

Does Connectedness Matter? The Association Between Mutuality and Job Satisfaction Among Home Health Aides Caring for Adults With Heart Failure

Home health aides (HHAs) provide care to many adults with heart failure (HF) in the home. As the demand for HHAs increases, there is a need to promote HHAs' job satisfaction and retention. In this cross-sectional community-partnered study, we examined whether mutuality (e.g., quality of the HHA-patient relationship), is associated with job satisfaction among HHAs caring for adults with HF. Mutuality was assessed with the Mutuality Scale, which measures overall mutuality and its four domains (reciprocity, love and affection, shared pleasurable activities, and shared values). Our final sample of 200 HHAs was primarily female. The mean overall mutuality score was 2.92 out of 4 (SD 0.79). In our final model, overall mutuality and each of the four domains were associated with increased job satisfaction; however, only the shared pleasurable activities domain was significant (aPR: 1.15 [1.03-1.32]). Overall, mutuality may play a role in promoting job satisfaction among HHAs.

Self-care in coronary heart disease patient and caregiver dyads (HEARTS-IN-DYADS)-Protocol of a multicenter longitudinal study

Self-care performed by patients and the caregiver contribution to this self-care are essential for improving cardiovascular outcomes; however, so far, no studies have sufficiently investigated this field in Italy. This paper describes a research protocol of a multi-center longitudinal study designed to investigate the self-care of patients affected by coronary heart disease (CHD), the caregiver's contribution to this self-care, the predictors of patient and caregiver self-care, the mediating role of self-efficacy, and the self-care outcomes. Data collection will be performed across seven Italian inpatient settings at baseline and 3 and 6 months from enrollment. Multilevel modeling and actor partner interdependence models will be implemented on a sample of 330 patient-caregiver dyads to adjust for the interdependence of measurements. The study received approval from an ethics committee in Italy and was financed in January 2021 by a grant from the Solidal Foundation in Alessandria. This research will advance the knowledge about the self-care process in CHD. The results will guide research and clinical practice by identifying variables sensitive to educational interventions.

Family function, self-efficacy, care hours per day, closeness and benefit finding among stroke caregivers in China: A moderated mediation model

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore the moderated mediation mechanism of the relationships among family function, self-efficacy, care hours per day, closeness and benefit finding in family caregivers of patients with stroke in China.

BACKGROUND

Benefit finding can provide a new means of resolving depression among family members caring for an ill loved one. However, current research has paid little attention to the benefit finding of family caregivers of stroke patients in China.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Three hundred fifty family caregivers of patients with stroke were recruited from community service centres and hospitals in Zhengzhou, China. The participants completed the family APGAR index, caregiver benefit finding scale and Chinese general self-efficacy scale during a study conducted in 2017. Descriptive analyses and a moderated mediation model were computed. Reporting adhered to the STROBE checklist.

RESULTS

A total of 311 family caregivers completed this study. Closeness between family caregivers and patients with stroke moderated the relationship between family function and caregiver benefit finding. Self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between family function and caregiver benefit finding; moreover, care hours per day moderated the mediation.

CONCLUSION

This study shows important factors associated with benefit finding in family caregivers of patients with stroke. This indicates elements that could help improve benefit finding intervention programmes for family caregivers of patients with stroke.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings in our study provide valuable information on benefit finding and indicate some interventions to improve the mental health of family caregivers of stroke patients.

Validation of the Benefits of Being a Caregiver Scale (BBCS) - further development of an independent characteristic of informal caregiving

BACKGROUND

Although larger amounts of scientific attention have been directed toward the concept of positive aspects of caregiving (PAC) in recent years, a globally uniform definition and a suitable, scientifically valid questionnaire for all informal caregivers have yet to be developed. On the basis of the questionnaires that already exist for measuring PAC, the authors aimed to (a) concretize the concept and (b) develop a new scale by focusing only on items that show that family caregivers experience a benefit for themselves and that the benefit they experience is the result of their caregiving activities.

METHODS

The Benefits of Being a Caregiver Scale (BBCS) was validated on data from 961 informal caregivers. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess the internal consistency of the items, and a factor analysis was conducted to determine the structure of the BBCS. The discriminatory power and item difficulties were examined. Construct validity was established by testing four hypotheses.

RESULTS

The factor analysis confirmed the single-factor structure of the BBCS. Cronbach's alpha for the total scale was 0.922. One of the 15 items did not show good to very good discriminatory power and was excluded from the final version of the scale. A higher BBCS score was observed if the caregiver experienced more positive aspects of caregiving and tended to have better general coping skills and a positive relationship with the care-receiver. The BBCS score was not associated with the subjective burden of the caregiver. Results confirmed the validity of the BBCS.

CONCLUSION

The BBCS is a valid assessment instrument for measuring the benefits that caregivers experience from their caregiving work and can easily be used in research and practice. The BBCS is available free of charge in English and German ( http://www.caregiver-benefits.de ).

Dyad Gender and Relationship Quality Influence Heart Failure Self-Care

Caregivers promote heart failure self-care, yet little is known about how relationship quality and dyad gender influences self-care. The purpose of this study was to evauluate the contribution of dyad gender and relationship quality on heart failure self-care. The study was a secondary analysis from a heart failure self-care intervention. Dyad gender was categorized by patient-caregiver gender as Male-Male (M + M), Female-Female (F + F), Female-Male (Fp + Mc), and Male-Female (Mp + Fc). The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index v.6.2 measured self-care. The Mutuality Scale assessed relationship quality. Univariate linear regression identified determinants of patient self-care maintenance and self-efficacy. The sample (n = 503) was 48% Mp + Fc, 27% F + F, 15% Fp + Mc, and 10% M + M. Better caregiver mutuality in M + M dyads was associated with lower self-care maintenance (b = -7.45, 95% CI [-13.80, -1.11]) and self-efficacy (b = -18.07, 95% CI [-29.11, -7.04]). Better patient mutuality was associated with higher self-efficacy for M + M dyads (b = 12.63, 95% CI [2.18, 23.09]). Mutuality and dyad gender appear important for self-care. Consider the role of gender in the dyad in behavioral interventions.

Testing the validation and reliability of the Caregiver-Patient Activation Measure (CG-PAM)

Objective

The objective of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Caregiver-Patient Activation Measure (CG-PAM).

Methods

Based on the psychometric testing of the original Patient Activation Measure (PAM), three assessments of reliability and validity were completed on the CG-PAM. Test-retest reliability was assessed across two weeks (n = 23). Criterion validity was assessed by interviewing participants from the test-retest cohort (n = 10), with transcripts assessed by subject matter experts (n = 3) to classify activation levels of the interviewee. Construct validity was assessed through a survey (n = 179) consisting of demographic questions, the CG-PAM and concepts hypothesised to be related to caregiver activation.

Results

There was strong test-retest reliability (r = 0.893), but poor criterion validity. Assessment o;f construct validity demonstrated significant relationships found between caregiver activation and weekly hours of care provided (p < 0.001), relationship satisfaction (p < 0.001), and dyad typology (p < 0.001), but not with perceived levels of stress or social support.

Conclusion

The CG-PAM was found to have strong reliability, but there were inconsistent results across the validation tests conducted.

Innovation

Future research must consider the dynamic nature of caring and the importance of the relationship between the caregiver/recipient when defining activation levels within the CG-PAM.

The relationship between mutuality and contributions to self-care in family caregivers of patients with heart failure: multiple mediating effects of resilience and self-efficacy

AIMS

Previous studies have indicated a positive association between mutuality and caregiver contributions to heart failure self-care (CC-HFSC). However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms in the relationship. This study aimed to determine whether resilience and self-efficacy play multiple mediating roles in the association between mutuality and CC-HFSC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this cross-sectional, correlational study, a self-reported survey was conducted in 259 patient-caregiver dyads recruited from two hospitals in China using a convenience sampling method. Better mutuality (r = 0.27, P < 0.01), resilience (r = 0.23, P < 0.01), and self-efficacy (r = 0.34, P < 0.01) were correlated with greater CC-HFSC maintenance. Better mutuality (r = 0.29, P < 0.01), resilience (r = 0.20, P < 0.01), and self-efficacy (r = 0.35, P < 0.01) were correlated with greater CC-HFSC management. In multiple mediation models, self-efficacy independently [effect = 0.061, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.024-0.119)] and resilience and self-efficacy serially [effect = 0.017, 95% CI (0.007-0.036)] mediated the association between mutuality and CC-HFSC maintenance. Meanwhile, self-efficacy independently [effect = 0.058, 95% CI (0.020-0.113)] and resilience and self-efficacy serially [effect = 0.018, 95% CI (0.007-0.038)] mediated the association between mutuality and CC-HFSC management.

CONCLUSIONS

Resilience and self-efficacy were multiple mediators in the association between mutuality and CC-HFSC. Interventions targeting the facilitation of mutuality, and then increasing resilience and self-efficacy may be beneficial for improving CC-HFSC.

Benefit finding in first-ever young and middle-aged patients who had a stroke and their spousal caregivers in China: a longitudinal mixed-methods study protocol

INTRODUCTION

The global burden caused by stroke is shifting to young and middle-aged people. Researchers have emphasised the significance of benefit finding (BF) in psychological health. However, current research has paid little attention to stroke and has discussed BF from only a single perspective, that is, that of either patients or caregivers. Our study aims to understand the changing trajectory, predictors and dyadic interaction of BF in dyads of patient who had a stroke and caregiver.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is a longitudinal mixed-methods, multicentre study. A total of 142 patients who had a stroke and 142 spousal caregivers will be investigated. Participants will be recruited from four large public hospitals in northern China. Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected at five time points (near discharge and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months following discharge). Validated and reliable questionnaires will be used in quantitative studies. Information on sociodemographic data, BF, functional status, perceived stress, coping styles and mutuality will be collected from the dyads. Qualitative data will be collected via semistructured interviews and observations. The growth mixture model will be used to analyse quantitative data, and Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method will be used to analyse qualitative data. We plan to conduct parallel but separate quantitative and qualitative data analyses and ultimately integrate the data sets to determine confirmation, expansion or discordance.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

All participants will be provided with an informed consent form. This study will encode all identifiable data and store all recorded data on a secure research server. This study has been approved by the Ethics Review Committee of the College of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University (ZZUIRB2020-53). The results of the longitudinal study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2000039509.

Effects of A Benefit-Finding Intervention in Stroke Caregivers in Communities

Objectives: To verify the effectiveness and feasibility of a nine-week benefit-finding intervention on the burden, quality of life, and benefit finding of caregivers, as well as on the quality of life of stroke survivors.Methods: Benefit finding refers to the individual, social, psychological and spiritual benefits perceived by an individual experiencing stress or post-traumatic events. A randomized controlled trial was performed in which 68 stroke survivors and their caregivers were recruited from the Zhengzhou community, China, and randomly split into two groups. The intervention group included those having undergone a nine-week benefit-finding intervention, while the control group included those individuals having undergone a nine-week routine health education. At baseline and one-week post-intervention (after a 9-week intervention), the quality of life of stroke survivors and caregivers and the burden and benefit finding of caregivers were determined.Results: In comparison to the control group, caregiver benefit finding, quality of life, burden, and stroke survivor quality of life were significantly improved (P <.005).Conclusions: The intervention appears to be feasible for stroke patients and caregivers. The intervention is capable of improving the quality of life of caregivers and survivors, increasing the benefit finding of caregivers and reducing the burden of caregivers.Clinical Implications: The benefit-finding intervention is capable of improving the health condition of stroke patients and caregivers.

Attachment insecurities, caregiver burden, and psychological distress among partners of patients with heart disease

Caregiver psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety) is harmful to both caregiver and patient. Different affect-regulation strategies associated with attachment orientations may impact a caregiver’s perception of their caregiving role as a burden, thereby contributing to their psychological distress. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the links among attachment orientations, caregiver burden, and psychological distress in a cardiac context. Participants (N = 181, Mage = 61.79, SD = 10.49; males = 24.7%) were romantic partners of patients with heart disease (i.e., informal caregivers) who completed validated questionnaires. The majority of caregivers had partners with coronary artery disease (n = 127, 70. 2%). 66.3% of caregivers reported low burden, 87.6% reported low levels of depression and 89.9% reported low levels of anxiety. The mean anxious attachment score was 2.74 (SD = 1.37) and the mean avoidant attachment score was 2.95 (SD = 1.26). Four mediation analyses were run using PROCESS macro for IBM SPSS (version 26). Statistical models showed that the relationships between attachment anxiety and psychological distress were mediated by caregiver burden [abanxiety= 0.15, 95% C.I. (0.04, 0.29); abdepression = 0.15, 95% C.I. (0.05, 0.28)] and that attachment avoidance was not a significant covariate (cvanxiety = −0.02, p>0.05; cvdepression = 0.40, p>0.05). The relationships between attachment avoidance and psychological distress were also mediated by caregiver burden [abanxiety = 0.23, 95% C.I. (0.10, 0.42); abdepression = 0.21, 95% C.I. (0.09, 0.37]with attachment anxiety as a significant covariate (cvanxiety = 1.09, p<0.001; cvdepression = 1.09, p<0.001). Interventions for caregivers reporting attachment insecurity and burden should be explored to potentially lessen caregiver distress as they support their partners with heart disease.

Quality of Life among Caregivers of Patients Diagnosed with Major Chronic Disease during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

Quality of life (QoL) is considered one of the measures of health outcomes. Limited research studies have assessed family caregivers’ QoL, especially among patients diagnosed with chronic disease. This study measures the QoL of caregivers who guardian patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and/or other diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were primary caregivers who were supporting, in the last six months, individuals diagnosed with one of the previously mentioned chronic diseases. This included caregivers of patients admitted to a tertiary hospital from January 2021 to July of the same year (n = 1081); all participants completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment tool (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Caregivers of patients with cancer reported the highest mean level of QoL, followed by diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, then other different diseases (M = 3.80; M = 3.38; M = 3.37; and M = 2.51, respectively). A chi-square test of independence was performed to examine the relationship between the QoL of the four groups and their behaviors (i.e., caregivers’ psychological onuses and physical actions/reactions). The relation between these variables was significant, X² (3, n = 1081) = 8.9, p = 0.001. The Kruskal–Wallis test indicated significant differences among the four groups (p ≤ 0.001). While the overall results of the QoL level of participants were low, a major recommendation of this study was to incorporate a QoL assessment to caregivers of chronically ill patients. Regular psychological and physical health check-ups of caregivers should be mandated in the healthcare system. Research studies should consider investigating and identifying the factors affecting health outcomes and positive developments which have a great impact on the wellbeing of both caregivers and patients on personal, organizational, and national levels.

Classifying Heart Failure Caregivers as Adequately or Inadequately Resourced to Care: A Latent Class Analysis

OBJECTIVES

To identify classes of heart failure (HF) caregivers based upon indicators of coping resources and stress, and then, to examine the relationships between the identified caregiver classes and depression, caregiver burden, and life changes.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from 530 HF caregivers were analyzed in this secondary analysis using a three-step latent class mixture model to classify caregivers based on level of resources and examine the relationship between the identified classes and depression, caregiver burden, and life changes. Using an online survey, caregivers reported on social support, problem-solving, family function, depression, caregiver burden, and life changes.

RESULTS

Caregivers were 41.39 (± 10.38) years of age, 49.1% women, 78.3% white, 77.6% urban-dwelling, and 61.7% college/postgraduate educated. Three classes of caregivers (42.3% Adequately Resourced, 25.1% At Risk for Decompensation, 32.6% Inadequately Resourced) were identified. Inadequately Resourced caregivers had the lowest levels of social support, problem-solving, and family function and the highest levels of depression and caregiver burden. Caregivers At Risk for Decompensation had the best family function and reported the most positive perceptions of life changes despite low levels of social support and problem-solving.

CONCLUSION

Social support, problem-solving, and family function are modifiable coping resources which may buffer stress and influence stress indicators. Caregivers with few coping resources may experience higher degrees of depression and burden, and less positive perceptions of life changes. More research is needed to examine the influence of these coping resources on caregiver adaptation to facilitate the development of targeted interventions which support caregiver mental health.

Heart Failure Caregiver Burden and Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Introduction/Objective:

This review aimed to summarize articles describing caregiver burden and the relationship between health outcomes as well as describing interventions focusing on this population.

Methods:

The review used the PRISMA statement and Whittemore and Knafl guidelines. The search engines Scopus, PubMed, Ovid (PsycINFO), and CINAHL were searched for articles published in English.

Results:

This review included 30 studies that met the criteria. Physical, psychological, and social factors were associated with HF caregiver burden. HF caregiver interventions included health education, post-discharge home visits, phone calls, counseling, and support groups that demonstrated some potential to reduce the caregivers’ burden.

Discussion:

Healthcare provider team should screen for caregiver burden and promote healthy behaviors, and strategies to improve quality of life. Further studies should include caregivers as care team members and embed social networking in the interventions for reducing HF caregiver burden. The caregivers’ burden could influence the poor outcomes of care, including physical, psychological, societal, and functional dimensions. Future interventions should develop to alleviate HF caregiver burden.

[Geriatric and social assessment by the heart failure patients' nurse in the FIL-EAS ic]

The use of geriatric and social assessment grids by dedicated nurses for patients hospitalised for acute heart failure allows for an early and safe return home in home hospitalisation. These grids isolate a sub-group of older patients with a high risk of re-hospitalisation for whom specific actions can be envisaged.

Influence of mutuality on quality of life in heart failure patient with inadequate self-care and caregiver dyads: an actor-partner interdependence model analysis

AIMS

Mutuality, a positive quality of the relationship between patients and their informal caregivers characterized by love and affection, shared pleasurable activities, shared values, and reciprocity, influences several patient-caregiver outcomes in chronic-condition cases, but it remains unknown whether it influences the heart failure (HF) patient-caregiver dyad quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of mutuality and its four dimensions (love and affection, shared pleasurable activities, shared values, and reciprocity) on QOL in HF patient-caregiver dyads.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cross-sectional study: Using the actor-partner interdependence model, we examined how an individual's mutuality influenced his/her own QOL (actor effect) and his/her partner's QOL (partner effect). Mutuality and physical and mental QOL were measured with the Mutuality Scale and Short Form 12, respectively. A total of 494 HF patient-caregiver dyads were enrolled in the study. Mutuality showed strong evidence of caregiver partner effects on the HF patients' physical QOL (total score B = 2.503, P = 0.001; shared pleasurable activities B = 2.265, P < 0.001; shared values B = 1.174, P = 0.420 and reciprocity B = 1.888, P = 0.001). For the mental QOL, mutuality and its four subscales had actor effects only on the patients' mental health (total mutuality B = 2.646, P = 0.003; love and affection B = 1.599, P = 0.360; shared pleasurable activities B = 2.599, P = 0.001; shared values B = 1.564, P = 0.001 and reciprocity B = 1.739, P = 0.020). In caregivers, mutuality had an actor effects on mental QOL (total score B = 1.548, P = 0.041 and reciprocity B = 1.526, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm the important role of mutuality in determining the physical and mental QOL in HF patient-caregiver dyads. Interventions aimed at improving the relationships within HF patient-caregiver dyads may have an impact on HF patients' and caregivers' QOL.

Psychosocial Factors Related to Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure Caregivers: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) caregivers experience increased demands and burden. Social support and problem solving may influence the effect of these variables on caregiver outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine whether social support and problem solving mediate relationships among caregiver demands and burden, self-care, depression, and life changes in heart failure caregivers.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional, exploratory design, heart failure caregivers (n = 530) completed online questionnaires on caregiver demands and burden, social support, problem solving, depression, self-care, and life changes. Path analysis examined a hypothesized mediating role of social support and problem solving in the relationships among caregiver demands and burden and caregiver outcomes. The analysis included (1) a model-development phase (n = 329) to make data-based decisions on measurement indicators and model structure and (2) a confirmatory phase (n = 201) to provide unbiased inference on the model structure resulting from the initial phase.

RESULTS

Participants were 41.39 (±10.38) years old and primarily white (78.3%) men (50.9%) caring for a spouse (44.9%). Per the magnitudes of the estimated path coefficients, social support mediated the relationship between caregiver burden and depression but did not relevantly mediate the relationship between caregiver burden and self-care or caregiver life changes. In the presence of social support as a parallel mediator, problem solving was not a relevant mediator between caregiver burden and demands and caregiver outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Social support mediates the effects of caregiver burden on depression but has little effect on self-care or life changes. In the presence of social support, problem solving does not mediate the effects of caregiver demands and burden on caregiver outcomes.

Meeting support needs for informal caregivers of people with heart failure: a rapid review

Aims 

To explore whether a support-based intervention for informal caregivers of people with heart failure changes their psychosocial and emotional wellbeing. Background Successful self-management of heart failure includes addressing the psychosocial and emotional wellbeing needs of informal caregivers. However, there is limited evidence of how caregivers are supported in this way.

Methods and results 

A rapid review was conducted searching four electronic databases with restrictions to dates January 1996 – September 2019. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and the first author reviewed articles based on title, abstract and then full text, before articles were assessed for conclusions and outcomes. Six studies met the criteria for review. The key caregiver outcomes were burden, depression/anxiety, and quality of life. Significant reductions in caregiver burden were demonstrated in the three studies that measured this outcome. There were mixed results for the outcome measures of depression/anxiety, as well as quality of life, with some interventions demonstrating either significant reductions in depression or anxiety scores, or increases in quality of life scores.

Conclusion 

With only six studies included in this rapid review, it is not possible to make any definitive conclusions regarding the success, or otherwise, of interventions for caregivers of people with heart failure to improve their psychosocial and emotional wellbeing. Whilst some papers would tend to suggest that such interventions can reduce caregiver burden, there is a need to interrogate further interventions in this area to fill the current gap in the literature.

The relationship between positive aspects of caring, anxiety and depression in the caregivers of cancer patients: The mediational role of burden

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine how the burden of caregivers of patients with an advanced oncological illness mediates the relationship between positive aspects of care, depression and anxiety.

METHODS

Quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. One hundred informal adult caregivers of patients with advanced oncological illness who attended the pain and palliative care unit or the psychological unit at the Instituto de Cancerologia Clinica las Americas (Medellin, Colombia) completed self-report assessments including positive aspects of care (PAC), burden and anxiety/depression measured using the HADS (Hospitalized Anxiety Depression Scale). The partial least squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was selected to validate the hypotheses of the study.

RESULTS

Most of the participants were women (86%), with a mean age of 46.52 years (SD=15.05). Most of the participants reported experiencing both PAC and anxiety. They also scored low for burden. PAC exerted a negative effect on Burden, whereas Burden contributed positively to Anxiety and Depression. The indirect impact of PAC on Anxiety and Depression was significant p < .00.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive aspects of care in advanced cancer caregivers constitutes a protective factor against caregiver's burden, depression and anxiety. Health staff can promote caregivers' adaptation and wellbeing emphasizing these PAC.

The Association Between Mutuality, Anxiety, and Depression in Heart Failure Patient-Caregiver Dyads: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model Analysis

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) patient-caregiver dyads experience severe psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression. A variable that has been found to be associated with anxiety and depression in patients and caregivers in severe chronic conditions is mutuality. However, this association has not been explored in HF patient-caregiver dyads to date.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations among mutuality, anxiety, and depression in HF patient-caregiver dyads.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Mutuality, anxiety, and depression in HF patient-caregiver dyads were assessed using the Mutuality Scale (MS) total and 4 dimension scores and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, respectively. Data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence model to examine how mutuality of patients and caregivers was associated with both the patients' own (actor effect) and their partners' anxiety and depression (partner effect).

RESULTS

A sample of 366 dyads of patients with HF (mean age, 72 years; 56% male) and caregivers (mean age, 54 years; 73.3% female) was enrolled. Regarding patient anxiety, we observed only an actor effect between the MS dimension scores of "love and affection" and "reciprocity" and anxiety in patients (B = -1.108, P = .004 and B = -0.826, P = .029, respectively). No actor and partner effects were observed concerning caregiver anxiety. Regarding depression, we observed that only the MS dimension of "love and affection" in patients had both an actor (patient: B = -0.717, P = .032) and a partner (caregiver: B = 0.710, P = .040) effect on depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The assessment of MS in HF patient-caregiver dyads is important to formulate interventions aimed at improving anxiety and depression in patients and caregivers.

Correlation between quality of life of cardiac patients and caregiver burden

Background

Caregivers experience high strain related to care giving. There is increasing interest in examining the caregiver burden of cardiac patients and studying the characteristics of caregivers.

Purpose

To explore the correlation between quality of life cardiac patients and caregiver’s burden.

Methods

A cross-sectional design using a convenience sample of caregivers and patients with cardiac conditions. Sociodemographic sheet, Dutch Objective Burden Inventory (DOBI), and Quality of Life (QLI-Cardiac 4). Linear regression was used to explore the predictors.

Results

200 caregivers and 200 patients with cardiac diseases completed the study. The overall mean scores of both DOBI and QLI-4 indicated moderate results 1.51(SD 0.4), 19.8 (SD 4.7) respectively. Predictors of caregiver burden were young, less educated caregivers and high QoL of cardiac patients.

Conclusion

Caregivers should receive more support and training from healthcare providers to develop their coping and resilience skills in a way that decreases their care burden and improves their quality of care and self-confidence.

Changes in Social Support and Relational Mutuality as Moderators in the Association Between Heart Failure Patient Functioning and Caregiver Burden

BACKGROUND

Caregivers to patients with heart failure (HF) may experience substantial burden in their roles, yet little is known about factors that exacerbate caregiver burden over time.

OBJECTIVES

We test the moderating role of changes in caregivers' social support and patient-caregiver relationship mutuality in the association between HF patient functioning and caregiver burden.

METHODS

Data were analyzed using Stata 13.1 for 100 HF primary caregivers, the majority of whom were female (81%), living with the patient (87%), and married or partnered to the patient (70%). Patients reported on dyspnea, disability level, and symptom severity, and caregivers reported on patient-caregiver mutuality, social support, and perceived caregiver burden at both baseline and a 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Regression analyses using the Structural Equation Modeling framework revealed that declines in caregiver-patient mutuality over the 12 months of the study amplified the association between patient functioning (ie, dyspnea, symptom severity, and disability) and caregiver burden. Change in social support did not significantly moderate the association between any of the patient functioning variables and caregiver burden.

CONCLUSIONS

Caregivers' relationships with their care recipient shape how they respond to and interpret the demands of caregiving, and relationships experiencing negative changes over time contribute to caregiver burden. Promoting and sustaining positive social relationships within the caregiver-patient dyad is thus a promising avenue for interventions aimed at reducing the burden experienced by caregivers to patients with HF.

Evaluating emotional distress and health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure and their family caregivers: Testing dyadic dynamics using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

PURPOSE

1) To compare levels of emotional symptoms and health-related quality of life between patients with heart failure and their family caregivers; and 2) to examine whether patients' and caregivers' emotional symptoms were associated with their own, as well as their partner's health-related quality of life.

METHOD

In this cross-sectional study, 41 patients-caregiver dyads (78% male patients, aged 68.6 years; and 83% female caregivers, aged 65.8 years) completed all nine dimensions of the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Minnesota Living with Heart failure Questionnaire. Dyadic data were analysed for 6 sub-scales of the Brief Symptom Inventory, using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in emotional symptoms and health-related quality of life between patients with heart failure and their caregivers. Patients' and caregivers' emotional symptoms were associated with their own health-related quality of life. Caregivers' anxiety, phobic anxiety, obsession-compulsion, depression and hostility negatively influenced their partner's (i.e. the patient's) health-related quality of life. There were no partner effects of patients' emotional symptoms on the health-related quality of life of caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that patients may be particularly vulnerable to the emotional distress, i.e. thoughts, impulses and actions of their caregivers. It may be possible to improve patients' health-related quality of life by targeting specific detrimental emotional symptoms of caregivers.

Creating a Caregiver Benefit Finding Scale of Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: Development and Psychometric Evaluation

In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the benefit finding of family caregivers due to the important role they play. Although some instruments measure benefit finding of caregivers, they do not comprehensively address it in terms specific to the family caregivers of stroke survivors, who require long-term, consistent care. This study is the first effort to develop a comprehensive Caregiver Benefit Finding Scale for the family caregivers of stroke survivors in a Chinese cultural setting. First, 50 items were extracted from a systematic literature review, and a semi-structured interview was conducted with 20 stroke family caregivers to develop the preliminary version of the scale (Version 1). Second, Delphi procedures with 20 experts were used to revise the first version and create Version 2 (37 items). Another six experts were recruited for content validation. Item content validity index (I-CVI) values ranged from 0.83 to 1.00, and the value of the scale CVI was 0.97. Third, 309 family caregivers completed the Version 2 questionnaire and the Chinese version of the Positive Aspects of Caregiving. Two weeks later, 35 family caregivers once again completed the questionnaires. An exploratory factor analysis produced four components (personal growth, health promotion, family growth, and self-sublimation) and 26 items for Version 3 (the cumulative proportion variance was 74.14%). Subsequently, 311 family caregivers completed Version 3. A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the structure. The goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.921, adjusted GFI = 0.901, normal fit index = 0.951, incremental fit index = 0.990, comparative FI = 0.990, and the root mean square error of approximation = 0.02 were within the acceptable range. Criterion-related validity was equal to 0.803. The model-based internal consistency index was 0.845 and the values of the Cronbach'α coefficient of the four dimensions were 0.885-0.953. The split-half reliability was 0.92, and the test-retest reliability was 0.994. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the validity and reliability of the Caregiver Benefit Finding Scale. The scale can help researchers and clinicians to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of stroke family caregivers' positive experience. This understanding is necessary for future efforts to address issues in benefit finding by targeting the underlying mechanism and intervention.

Quality of Life in Family Caregivers of Adolescents with Depression in China: A Mixed-Method Study

PURPOSE

In this study, we investigated quantitatively the quality of life (QoL) and its influencing factors among Chinese family caregivers who care for adolescents with depression (AWD) and we explored qualitatively their care-giving experiences.

METHODS

The study was a mixed method with convergent parallel design. The sociodemographic characteristics, QoL, caregivers' burden, family functioning, positive and negative affects were assessed by using questionnaires on 240 family caregivers of AWD in China. Twelve of these family caregivers were interviewed by using a semi-structured guide to explore their care-giving experiences.

RESULTS

The mean score among family caregivers of AWD for physical QoL was 65.18 and 59.42 for mental QoL, which was significantly lower than the Chinese norms for QoL. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that course of disease of AWD, caregivers' educational qualification, family functioning, positive affect and care-giving burden accounted for 57% of the variance in physical QoL. Suicide history of AWD, caregivers' educational qualification, negative affect, positive affect, care-giving burden and family functioning accounted for 54% of the variance in mental QoL. Four major themes of the care-giving experiences emerged: lack of knowledge about depression, being overwhelmed emotionally with psychological burden, the devastating impact of illness on family, and the perceived benefits of care-giving.

CONCLUSION

The QoL among family caregivers of AWD in China was low. It is necessary for health-care professionals to pay more attention to the QoL of family caregivers who care for AWD.

Depressive symptoms in the family caregivers of patients with heart failure: an integrative review

AIMS

Identify the occurrence of depressive symptoms in family caregivers of patients with heart failure and the correlation of other variables with depressive symptoms.

DESIGN/METHOD

The literature review was conducted in the Web of Science, Medline, LILACS and PubMed databases in March 2017. Papers published between 2004 and 2016, written in English, Spanish or Portuguese were included. The descriptors used were health, heart failure, depression, caregivers, and family.

RESULTS

26 papers were selected. 6% to 64% reported depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were associated with patients' and caregivers' characteristics. In most cases, depressive symptoms were greater among family caregivers than in the general population and were mainly associated with care burden and quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

The studies report depressive symptoms in caregivers of patients with heart failure.

Illness trajectory in heart failure: narratives of family caregivers

OBJECTIVE

To explore the meaning of being a family caregiver for a relative with advanced heart failure (HF) in their own home, and to gain an understanding of how dignity is upheld in family caregiving contexts.

METHOD

We used a phenomenological-hermeneutical method inspired by the Ricoeurian philosophy. Portuguese caregivers for relatives with advanced HF participated in two reflective interviews over a four-month period.

RESULTS

The ten family caregivers enrolled in this study included two daughters and eight spouses with a mean age of 70 years. We identified two main themes: (1) Struggle between inner force and sense of duty; (2) Struggle between feelings of burden and security.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

People with HF have debilitating symptoms associated with psychological stress, which can burden both them and their family caregivers. Findings support that family caregivers require participation in the planning and execution of their relative's health care.

Influence of preparedness on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in caregivers of heart failure patients: Testing a model of path analysis

OBJECTIVES

Testing the influence of heart failure (HF) caregiver preparedness on anxiety and depression, and the influence of HF caregiver anxiety and depression on caregiver physical and mental QOL.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we used the Caregiver Preparedness Scale (CPS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) with the anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D) subscales, and the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) measuring the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) of QOL. Socio-demographic data and patients' clinic data were also collected. Data analysis was conducted with descriptive statistics, correlations, and path analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 366 HF caregiver and patient dyads were enrolled. Caregivers were mostly females (73.3%) with a mean age of 58.61 (SD = 15.66) years. The tested model showed excellent fit indices with the following significant paths: CPS scores predicted HADS-D scores; HADS-A scores predicted MCS scores; and HADS-D scores predicted both PCS and MCS scores. Also, HADS-D mediated the relationship between CPS and MCS scores.

CONCLUSION

Preparedness influences HF caregiver depression and depression influences caregiver physical and mental QOL. Depression mediates between preparedness and HF caregiver mental QOL.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Interventions focused on improving HF caregiver preparedness may improve caregivers' depression and QOL.

Family Health Conversations Conducted by Telephone in Heart Failure Nursing Care: A Feasibility Study

Registered nurses (RNs) in heart failure (HF) nursing care have a key role in providing family support, which positively affects the outcome for the patient. Telephone interventions conducted by RNs have been reported to be successful in HF nursing care, but Family Health Conversations (FamHCs) involving the patient and the family, have not previously been tested. The purpose of the current study was to explore the experiences and feasibility of nurse-led FamHCs conducted by telephone with patients and their family caregivers. A single-group intervention study with a pretest–posttest design was conducted in three regional hospitals that had a nurse-led HF clinic. Five RNs, eight patients, and eight family caregivers participated. Three FamHCs were conducted by telephone with each family every 2 weeks. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through semistructured interviews and questionnaires. FamHCs improved the nurse–family relationships and relationships within the families and provided RNs with new knowledge about the families. FamHCs conducted by telephone were considered to be feasible for both families and RNs, although RNs preferred fewer and shorter FamHCs. The RNs preferred meeting face-to-face with the families as nonverbal communication between the family members could be missed because of lack of visual input. On the other hand, RNs appreciated to focus entirely on the conversation without the need to perform illness-related routine checks. In conclusion, the advantages of FamHCs conducted by telephone outweighed the disadvantages. Visual contact, provided by video telephony, and a shorter version of the tested FamHC would facilitate the use in HF nursing care.

'Who Cares?' The experiences of caregivers of adults living with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease: a mixed methods systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To assess the experiences of unpaid caregivers providing care to people with heart failure (HF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or coronary artery disease (CAD). Design Mixed methods systematic review including qualitative and quantitative studies. Data sources Databases searched: Medline Ebsco, PsycInfo, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Embase, Web of Science, Ethos: The British Library and ProQuest. Grey literature identified using: Global Dissertations and Theses and Applied Sciences Index and hand searches and citation checking of included references. Search time frame: 1 January 1990 to 30 August 2017.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Inclusion was limited to English language studies in unpaid adult caregivers (>18 years), providing care for patients with HF, COPD or CAD. Studies that considered caregivers for any other diagnoses and studies undertaken in low-income and middle-income countries were excluded. Quality assessment of included studies was conducted by two authors.

DATA ANALYSIS/SYNTHESIS

A results-based convergent synthesis was conducted.

RESULTS

Searches returned 8026 titles and abstracts. 54 studies-21 qualitative, 32 quantitative and 1 mixed method were included. This totalled 26 453 caregivers who were primarily female (63%), with median age of 62 years. Narrative synthesis yielded six concepts related to caregiver experience: (1) mental health, (2) caregiver role, (3) lifestyle change, (4) support for caregivers, (5) knowledge and (6) relationships. There was a discordance between paradigms regarding emerging concepts. Four concepts emerged from qualitative papers which were not present in quantitative papers: (1) expert by experience, (2) vigilance, (3) shared care and (4) time.

CONCLUSION

Caregiving is life altering and complex with significant health implications. Health professionals should support caregivers who in turn can facilitate the recipient to manage their long-term condition. Further longitudinal research exploring the evolution of caregiver experiences over time of patients with chronic cardiopulmonary conditions is required.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42016053412.

Alzheimer's disease severity and its association with patient and caregiver quality of life in Japan: results of a community-based survey

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, exerts significant burden upon patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems globally. The current study investigated the associations between AD dementia patient disease severity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of both patients (proxy report) and their caregivers living in Japan, as well as caregiving-related comorbidities such as depression.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used self-reported data from caregivers of people diagnosed with AD dementia by a healthcare provider in Japan. Caregivers were identified via online panels and invited to participate in an online survey between 2014 and 2015. Caregivers completed survey items for themselves, in addition to providing proxy measures for patients with AD dementia for whom they were caring. Patient and caregiver HRQoL was measured using the EuroQoL 5-Dimension (EQ-5D). Additional outcomes for caregivers of AD dementia patients included the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) of depressive symptomology, as well as comorbidities experienced since initiating caregiving for their AD dementia patients. These outcomes were examined as a function of AD dementia severity, as measured by long-term care insurance (LTCI) categories. Bivariate analyses between LTCI and outcomes were conducted using independent t-tests and chi-square tests. Multivariable analyses, controlling for potential confounders, were conducted using generalized linear models (GLMs) specifying a normal distribution.

RESULTS

Across 300 caregiver respondents, multivariable results revealed that increasing AD dementia severity was significantly associated with poorer patient and caregiver EQ-5D scores and a high proportion of caregivers (30.0%) reported PHQ-9 scores indicative of major depressive disorder (MDD). The most frequent comorbidities experienced after becoming caregivers of AD dementia patients included hypertension (12.7%) and insomnia (11.0%). Depression and other comorbidities did not differ significantly by patient severity.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides unique insight into the specific degree of incremental burden associated with increasing AD dementia severity among patients and caregivers alike. Importantly, greater disease severity was associated with poorer quality of life among both patients and caregivers. These results suggest that earlier detection and treatment of AD dementia may provide an opportunity to reduce the burden of disease for patients, caregivers, and society at large.

Qualitative study of challenges of caring for a person with heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic health condition that causes significant morbidity among older adults, many of whom receive support and care from an informal caregiver. Caregiving is a difficult role with many responsibilities and challenges. An in-depth understanding of these challenges is necessary to develop services, resources, and interventions for HF caregivers. The goal of this study was to qualitatively ascertain the most significant challenges facing HF caregivers. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 caregivers of a person with HF (PHF). Content analysis revealed challenges rooted within the PHF (negative affect, resistant behavior, independence, and illness) Caregiver (balancing employment, lack of support, time, and caregiver health) and Relational level (PHF/caregiver dyadic relationship and other relationships). These findings can be used to inform interventions and support services for HF caregivers.

Detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease dementia stratified by severity as reported by caregivers in Japan

BACKGROUND

Dementia of Alzheimer's disease (AD) imposes burdens on patients, caregivers, and society. This cross-sectional study examined caregiver-reported history of disease onset and AD dementia to inform efforts promoting early disease detection and diagnosis.

METHODS

An online survey collected self-reported cross-sectional data - demographic characteristics, diagnosis, treatment experiences, and other information on disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment - from caregivers of patients with AD dementia. These characteristics were examined as a function of AD dementia severity.

RESULTS

Three hundred patients with AD dementia were trichotomized by long-term care insurance levels reported by caregivers: 12.3% (n=37) as low severity, 63.7% (n=191) as medium severity, and 24.0% (n=72) as high severity. The Short-Memory Questionnaire and patient dependency scores both varied significantly across severity groups. AD dementia symptoms were most frequently first detected by a caregiver (58.7%) or the patient's family (45.7%). However, in 13.7% of cases, symptoms were detected by a health care provider during a routine visit. Memory problems were the most frequent first symptoms (77.3%), followed by repetition (55.7%). Patients (73.7%) were taking symptomatic treatment such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or memantine. High-severity patients were older, had been diagnosed with AD dementia for a longer time, had more frequent reports of memory problems as the first symptoms detected, and required more hours of care per day, compared with low-severity patients.

CONCLUSION

Caregivers and families play an integral role in the identification of AD dementia patients, with memory problems being common first symptoms noticed by caregivers that led to a diagnosis of AD dementia. These results provide novel insight into the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of AD dementia in Japan and how these factors differ across the spectrum of disease severity.

Mutuality and heart failure self-care in patients and their informal caregivers

BACKGROUND

Heart failure is a progressive condition characterized by frequent hospitalizations for exacerbated symptoms. Informal family caregivers may help patients improve self-care, which may in turn reduce hospitalizations. However, little is known about how mutuality, defined as the quality of the patient-caregiver relationship, and caregiver burden affect self-care.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the associations among mutuality, patient self-care confidence (beliefs in abilities to engage in self-care behaviors) and maintenance (behaviors such as medication adherence, activity, and low salt intake), caregiver confidence in and maintenance of patient care, and caregiver perceived burden.

METHODS

This study used cross-sectional baseline data from a multi-site randomized clinical trial of a symptom and psychosocial care intervention. Patient-caregiver dyads ( N=99) completed self-report surveys of mutuality and self-care confidence and maintenance, and caregivers completed a measure of caregiver burden. Path analysis, with actor (effects within a person) partner (effects across the dyad) interdependence model paths and regression models were used to examine the associations among mutuality, caregiver burden, and self-care.

RESULTS

The majority of patients ( M age=66, 21% female) and caregivers ( M age=57, 81% female) were spouses (60%). The path model demonstrated significant actor effects; patients and caregivers with better mutuality were more confident in patient self-care ( p<.05). Partner effects were not significant. Regression models indicated that caregivers with greater mutuality reported less perceived burden ( p<.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Mutuality in patient-caregiver dyads is associated with patient self-care and caregiver burden and may be an important intervention target to improve self-care and reduce hospitalizations.

Family caregiving for persons with heart failure at the intersection of heart failure and palliative care: a state-of-the-science review

Many of the 23 million individuals with heart failure (HF) worldwide receive daily, unpaid support from a family member or friend. Although HF and palliative care practice guidelines stipulate that support be provided to family caregivers, the evidence base to guide care for this population has not been comprehensively assessed. In order to appraise the state-of-the-science of HF family caregiving and recommend areas for future research, the aims of this review were to summarize (1) how caregivers influence patients, (2) the consequences of HF for caregivers, and (3) interventions directed at HF caregivers. We reviewed all literature to December 2015 in PubMed and CINAHL using the search terms "heart failure" AND "caregiver." Inclusion criteria dictated that studies report original research of HF family caregiving. Articles focused on children or instrument development or aggregated HF with other illnesses were excluded. We identified 120 studies, representing 5700 caregivers. Research on this population indicates that (1) caregiving situations vary widely with equally wide-ranging tasks for patients to help facilitate their health behaviors, psychological health and relationships, and quality of life (QoL); (2) caregivers have numerous unmet needs that fluctuate with patients' unpredictable medical status, are felt to be ignored by the formal healthcare system, and can lead to distress, burden, and reduced QoL; and (3) relatively few interventions have been developed and tested that effectively support HF family caregivers. We provide recommendations to progress the science forward in each of these areas that moves beyond descriptive work to intervention development and clinical trials testing.

Registered Nurses' Perceptions about the Situation of Family Caregivers to Patients with Heart Failure - A Focus Group Interview Study

INTRODUCTION

Heart failure is a growing public health problem associated with poor quality of life and significant morbidity and mortality. The majority of heart failure care is provided by family caregivers, and is associated with caregiver burden and reduced quality of life. Research emphasizes that future nursing interventions should recognize the importance of involving family caregivers to achieve optimal outcomes.

AIMS

The aims of this study are to explore registered nurses' perceptions about the situation of family caregivers to patients with heart failure, and registered nurses' interventions, in order to improve family caregivers' situation.

METHODS

The study has a qualitative design with an inductive approach. Six focus group interviews were held with 23 registered nurses in three hospitals and three primary health care centres. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Two content areas were identified by the a priori study aims. Four categories and nine sub-categories emerged in the analysis process. The content area "Family caregivers' situation" includes two categories: "To be unburdened" and "To comprehend the heart failure condition and its consequences". The content area "Interventions to improve family caregivers' situation" includes two categories: "Individualized support and information" and "Bridging contact".

CONCLUSIONS

Registered nurses perceive family caregivers' situation as burdensome, characterized by worry and uncertainty. In the PHCCs, the continuity and security of an RN as a permanent health care contact was considered an important and sustainable intervention to better care for family caregivers' worry and uncertainty. In the nurse-led heart failure clinics in hospitals, registered nurses can provide family caregivers with the opportunity of involvement in their relative's health care and address congruence and relationship quality within the family through the use of "Shared care" and or Family-centred care. Registered nurses consider it necessary to have a coordinated individual care plan as a basis for collaboration between the county council and the municipality.

Impact of caring for persons with Alzheimer's disease or dementia on caregivers' health outcomes: findings from a community based survey in Japan

Background

This study assessed how family caregivers for patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or dementia in Japan differed from non-caregivers in characteristics and health outcomes (i.e., comorbidities, health-related quality of life [HRQoL], productivity, and resource use). Caregivers were hypothesized to experience significantly poorer outcomes than non-caregivers.

Methods

Data were combined from the 2012 and 2013 National Health and Wellness Survey in Japan (n = 60000). Caregivers for adult relatives with AD or dementia were compared with non-caregivers on: comorbidities (including Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) cutoff scores suggesting presence/absence of major depressive disorder (MDD)), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI), SF-36v2-based HRQoL, and healthcare resource utilization. Sociodemographic characteristics, health characteristics and behaviors, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) scores were compared across groups. Propensity matching, based on scores generated from a logistic regression predicting caregiving, was used to match caregivers with non-caregivers with similar likelihood of being caregivers. Bivariate comparisons across matched groups served to estimate outcomes differences due to caregiving.

Results

Among 55060 respondents, compared with non-caregivers (n = 53758), caregivers (n = 1302) were older (52.6 vs. 47.5 years), more frequently female (53 % vs. 49 %), married/partnered, frequent alcohol drinkers, current smokers, exercisers, and not employed, and they averaged higher CCI scores (0.37 vs. 0.14), all p < 0.05. Propensity scores incorporated sex, age, body mass index (BMI), exercise, alcohol, smoking, marital status, CCI, insured status, education, employment, income, and children in household. A greedy matching algorithm produced 1297 exact matches, excluding 5 non-matched caregivers. Health utilities scores were significantly lower among caregivers (0.724) vs. non-caregivers (0.764), as were SF-36v2 Physical and Mental Component Summary scores. Caregivers vs. non-caregivers had significantly higher absenteeism, presenteeism-related impairment, overall work impairment (25.8 % vs. 20.4 %, respectively), and activity impairment (25.4 % vs. 21.8 %), more emergency room and traditional provider visits (7.70 vs. 5.35) in the past six months, and more frequent MDD (14 % vs. 9 %), depression, insomnia, anxiety, and pain.

Conclusions

Those providing care for patients with AD or dementia in Japan experienced significantly poorer HRQoL and greater comorbid risk, productivity impairment, and resource use. These findings inform the need for greater support for caregivers and their patients.