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Sannes TS, Parmet T, Yusufov M, Sutherland J, Stefanik J, Andrade N, Gray TF, Braun IM, Pirl WF. So what I'm stressed? A qualitative study examininga caregivers' reactions to emerging biomarkers of stress. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 38:100783. [PMID: 38818371 PMCID: PMC11137355 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Caregivers of adults with cancer often report significant distress yet remain difficult to engage in supportive services. While the field of Psychosomatic Medicine has continued to identify important markers of physiologic stress, and demonstrated disruption in these markers in caregiver populations, no research has investigated whether biomarker information on caregivers' reaction to stress could impact their willingness to address their ongoing distress. Methods Here, we report on a qualitative study (N = 17) in which we conducted individual interviews with cancer caregivers to explore their key attitudes towards, and subjective experience of, mock stress biomarker data. A total of 17 caregivers of patients (M age = 56.1 years; SD = 12.3) with primarily metastatic brain tumors (glioblastoma) were interviewed regarding four commercially available biomarkers (telomere length; hair cortisol, activity levels and heart rate variability). Once presented with information about stress biomarkers, caregivers were asked to discuss their subjective reaction as if it was their own data as well as their motivation and willingness to seek support after receiving such information. We identified and extracted relevant themes. Results Analysis utilizing the framework method revealed four emerging themes. The first theme described caregivers' ability to manage stress and willingness to engage with supportive services. Second, caregivers generally accepted the biomarker data but preferred it to be presented in a specific way. The third theme demonstrated that for some, biomarker data may actually increase their subjective distress (e.g., whether or not something could be done to improve their mental state). The last theme described how biomarkers were generally received as meaningful motivators that could increase caregivers' willingness to engage with supportive services. Conclusions In addition to the more general identified theme of CG's willingness to engage with additional support, we gained insights into caregivers' reaction to the stress biomarkers presented. Findings will set the stage for the utility of stress biomarker information and whether it influences cancer caregivers' willingness to address their distress and motivation to engage in supportive services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy S. Sannes
- UMass Memorial Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tamar Parmet
- University of Colorado-Denver, Department of Psychology, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Miryam Yusufov
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jodi Sutherland
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Stefanik
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole Andrade
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tamryn F. Gray
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ilana M. Braun
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William F. Pirl
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Patano A, Wyatt G, Lehto R. Palliative and End-of-Life Family Caregiving in Rural Areas: A Scoping Review of Social Determinants of Health and Emotional Well-Being. J Palliat Med 2024. [PMID: 38598274 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Due to their remote location, rural-dwelling family caregivers (FCGs) experience geographic and psychosocial challenges when providing home-based palliative and end-of-life (PEOL) care for their care recipient. Limited research has evaluated the social and environmental factors that may compound FCG burden and contribute to adverse emotional health outcomes among rural-dwelling PEOL FCGs. Objective: To characterize the social determinants of health (SDOH) that affect the provision of PEOL care among rural-dwelling FCGs, along with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's Framework. Searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane, and 511 articles published between 2010 and 2023 were screened. Keywords included "rural," "PEOL care," and "FCG." Inclusion criteria included FCGs, ages ≥18 years; findings reported on SDOH, anxiety, and/or depressive symptoms; within a rural context; and U.S. based. Findings: In this review, 18 studies met eligibility and were included. Apart from six studies that specifically investigated Black and Latinx FCGs, most FCGs were middle-aged White female spouses. SDOH impacting PEOL care provision included: limited access to PEOL services due to remote distance and travel needs for services; low health literacy in medical terminology and patient symptom management; limited English-language proficiency; perceived clinician racial and ethnic discrimination; financial vulnerabilities affecting health care coverage; and underdeveloped infrastructure. These barriers negatively impacted decision making, communication with clinicians, and patient symptom management. FCGs reported emotional distress related to patients' symptom management and limited opportunities for respite. There was a limited investigation of emotional well-being and minimal interventions aimed toward improving rural-dwelling FCG emotional health. The presence of community support promoted hospice use and facilitated the provision of care. Conclusions: FCGs are vulnerable to adverse emotional health when providing home-based PEOL care. Research is needed to develop supportive interventions (e.g., digital health) for rural-dwelling FCGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arienne Patano
- College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Gwen Wyatt
- College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Rebecca Lehto
- College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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Homdee N, Lach J, Blackhall L, LeBaron V. The influence of ambient environmental factors on breakthrough Cancer pain: insights from remote health home monitoring and a proposed data analytic approach. BMC Palliat Care 2024; 23:62. [PMID: 38429698 PMCID: PMC10908209 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01392-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) is primarily managed at home and can stem from physical exertion and emotional distress triggers. Beyond these triggers, the impact of ambient environment on pain occurrence and intensity has not been investigated. This study explores the impact of environmental factors on the frequency and severity of breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) in the home context from the perspective of patients with advanced cancer and their primary family caregiver. METHODS A health monitoring system was deployed in the homes of patient and family caregiver dyads to collect self-reported pain events and contextual environmental data (light, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, ambient noise.) Correlation analysis examined the relationship between environmental factors with: 1) individually reported pain episodes and 2) overall pain trends in a 24-hour time window. Machine learning models were developed to explore how environmental factors may predict BTCP episodes. RESULTS Variability in correlation strength between environmental variables and pain reports among dyads was found. Light and noise show moderate association (r = 0.50-0.70) in 66% of total deployments. The strongest correlation for individual pain events involved barometric pressure (r = 0.90); for pain trends over 24-hours the strongest correlations involved humidity (r = 0.84) and barometric pressure (r = 0.83). Machine learning achieved 70% BTCP prediction accuracy. CONCLUSION Our study provides insights into the role of ambient environmental factors in BTCP and offers novel opportunities to inform personalized pain management strategies, remotely support patients and their caregivers in self-symptom management. This research provides preliminary evidence of the impact of ambient environmental factors on BTCP in the home setting. We utilized real-world data and correlation analysis to provide an understanding of the relationship between environmental factors and cancer pain which may be helpful to others engaged in similar work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nutta Homdee
- Center for Research Innovation and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
| | - John Lach
- The George Washington University School of Engineering & Applied Science Science & Engineering Hall, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Leslie Blackhall
- University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Virginia LeBaron
- University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Schuler T, King C, Matsveru T, Back M, Clark K, Chin D, Lilian R, Gallego B, Coiera E, Currow DC. Wearable-Triggered Ecological Momentary Assessments Are Feasible in People With Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers: Feasibility Study from an Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic at a Cancer Center. J Palliat Med 2023. [PMID: 37134212 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Emerging digital health approaches could play a role in better personalized palliative care. Aim: We conducted a feasibility study testing wearable sensor (WS)-triggered ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) and electronic patient-reported outcomes in community palliative care with patient-caregiver dyads. Design: All wore consumer-grade WS for five weeks. Sensor-detected "stress" (heart rate variability algorithm) that passed individualized thresholds triggered a short smartphone survey. Daily sleep surveys, weekly symptom surveys (Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale), and a poststudy experience survey were conducted. Setting/Participants: Fifteen dyads (n = 30) were recruited from an outpatient palliative care clinic for people with cancer. Results: Daytime sensor wear-time had 73% adherence. Participants perceived value in this support. Quantity and severity of "stress" events were higher in patients. Sleep disturbance was similar but for different reasons: patients (physical symptoms) and caregivers (worrying about the patient). Conclusions: EMAs are feasible and valued in community palliative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo Schuler
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Claire King
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Teresia Matsveru
- NSLHD Supportive and Palliative Care Network, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael Back
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katherine Clark
- NSLHD Supportive and Palliative Care Network, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dylan Chin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ruth Lilian
- Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Blanca Gallego
- Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Enrico Coiera
- Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David C Currow
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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LeBaron V, Homdee N, Ogunjirin E, Patel N, Blackhall L, Lach J. Describing and visualizing the patient and caregiver experience of cancer pain in the home context using ecological momentary assessments. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231194936. [PMID: 37654707 PMCID: PMC10467200 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231194936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pain continues to be a difficult and pervasive problem for patients with cancer, and those who care for them. Remote health monitoring systems (RHMS), such as the Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention for Cancer (BESI-C), can utilize Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) to provide a more holistic understanding of the patient and family experience of cancer pain within the home context. Methods Participants used the BESI-C system for 2-weeks which collected data via EMAs deployed on wearable devices (smartwatches) worn by both patients with cancer and their primary family caregiver. We developed three unique EMA schemas that allowed patients and caregivers to describe patient pain events and perceived impact on quality of life from their own perspective. EMA data were analyzed to provide a descriptive summary of pain events and explore different types of data visualizations. Results Data were collected from five (n = 5) patient-caregiver dyads (total 10 individual participants, 5 patients, 5 caregivers). A total of 283 user-initiated pain event EMAs were recorded (198 by patients; 85 by caregivers) over all 5 deployments with an average severity score of 5.4/10 for patients and 4.6/10 for caregivers' assessments of patient pain. Average self-reported overall distress and pain interference levels (1 = least distress; 4 = most distress) were higher for caregivers (x ¯ 3.02, x ¯ 2.60 , respectively ) compared to patients (x ¯ 2.82, x ¯ 2.25, respectively) while perceived burden of partner distress was higher for patients (i.e., patients perceived caregivers to be more distressed, x ¯ 3.21, than caregivers perceived patients to be distressed, x ¯ 2.55 ). Data visualizations were created using time wheels, bubble charts, box plots and line graphs to graphically represent EMA findings. Conclusion Collecting data via EMAs is a viable RHMS strategy to capture longitudinal cancer pain event data from patients and caregivers that can inform personalized pain management and distress-alleviating interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia LeBaron
- University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Nutta Homdee
- Center for Research Innovation and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Emmanuel Ogunjirin
- University of Virginia School of Engineering & Applied Science, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Nyota Patel
- University of Virginia School of Engineering & Applied Science, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Leslie Blackhall
- University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - John Lach
- The George Washington University School of Engineering & Applied Science, Washington, DC, USA
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LeBaron V. Challenges and Opportunities in Designing and Deploying Remote Health Monitoring Technology for Older Adults With Cancer. Innov Aging 2022; 6:igac057. [PMID: 36452048 PMCID: PMC9701055 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igac057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Remote health monitoring (RHM) technologies (eg, wearables, smart phones, embedded sensors, and telehealth platforms) offer significant opportunities to improve health and wellness for older adults facing serious illness. This article highlights key challenges and opportunities for designing and deploying RHM systems in the context of caring for older adults with cancer, with an emphasis on the key role nurses can play in this work. Focal topics include user-centered design, interdisciplinary collaboration, addressing health inequities and disparities, privacy and data security, participant recruitment and burden, personalized and tailored care, rapid technological change, family caregiver perspectives, and naturalistic data collection. It is critical for nurses to be aware of both challenges and opportunities within each of these areas in order to develop RHM systems that are optimally beneficial for patients, family caregivers, clinicians, and organizations. By leveraging their unique knowledge of the illness experience from the patient, family, and health care provider perspective, nurses can make essential clinical and scientific contributions to advance the field of RHM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia LeBaron
- School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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7
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LeBaron V, Boukhechba M, Edwards J, Flickinger T, Ling D, Barnes LE. Exploring the use of wearable sensors and natural language processing technology to improve patient-clinician communication: Protocol for a feasibility study (Preprint). JMIR Res Protoc 2022; 11:e37975. [PMID: 35594139 PMCID: PMC9166632 DOI: 10.2196/37975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Virginia LeBaron
- School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Mehdi Boukhechba
- School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - James Edwards
- School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Tabor Flickinger
- School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - David Ling
- School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Laura E Barnes
- School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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LeBaron V, Alam R, Bennett R, Blackhall L, Gordon K, Hayes J, Homdee N, Jones R, Lichti K, Martinez Y, Mohammadi S, Ogunjirin E, Patel N, Lach J. Deploying the Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention for Cancer (BESI-C) smart health system to support patients and family caregivers in managing pain: A feasibility and acceptability study. (Preprint). JMIR Cancer 2022; 8:e36879. [PMID: 35943791 PMCID: PMC9399893 DOI: 10.2196/36879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Distressing cancer pain remains a serious symptom management issue for patients and family caregivers, particularly within home settings. Technology can support home-based cancer symptom management but must consider the experience of patients and family caregivers, as well as the broader environmental context. Objective This study aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of a smart health sensing system—Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention for Cancer (BESI-C)—that was designed to support the monitoring and management of cancer pain in the home setting. Methods Dyads of patients with cancer and their primary family caregivers were recruited from an outpatient palliative care clinic at an academic medical center. BESI-C was deployed in each dyad home for approximately 2 weeks. Data were collected via environmental sensors to assess the home context (eg, light and temperature); Bluetooth beacons to help localize dyad positions; and smart watches worn by both patients and caregivers, equipped with heart rate monitors, accelerometers, and a custom app to deliver ecological momentary assessments (EMAs). EMAs enabled dyads to record and characterize pain events from both their own and their partners’ perspectives. Sensor data streams were integrated to describe and explore the context of cancer pain events. Feasibility was assessed both technically and procedurally. Acceptability was assessed using postdeployment surveys and structured interviews with participants. Results Overall, 5 deployments (n=10 participants; 5 patient and family caregiver dyads) were completed, and 283 unique pain events were recorded. Using our “BESI-C Performance Scoring Instrument,” the overall technical feasibility score for deployments was 86.4 out of 100. Procedural feasibility challenges included the rurality of dyads, smart watch battery life and EMA reliability, and the length of time required for deployment installation. Postdeployment acceptability Likert surveys (1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree) found that dyads disagreed that BESI-C was a burden (1.7 out of 5) or compromised their privacy (1.9 out of 5) and agreed that the system collected helpful information to better manage cancer pain (4.6 out of 5). Participants also expressed an interest in seeing their own individual data (4.4 out of 5) and strongly agreed that it is important that data collected by BESI-C are shared with their respective partners (4.8 out of 5) and health care providers (4.8 out of 5). Qualitative feedback from participants suggested that BESI-C positively improved patient-caregiver communication regarding pain management. Importantly, we demonstrated proof of concept that seriously ill patients with cancer and their caregivers will mark pain events in real time using a smart watch. Conclusions It is feasible to deploy BESI-C, and dyads find the system acceptable. By leveraging human-centered design and the integration of heterogenous environmental, physiological, and behavioral data, the BESI-C system offers an innovative approach to monitor cancer pain, mitigate the escalation of pain and distress, and improve symptom management self-efficacy. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/16178
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia LeBaron
- University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Ridwan Alam
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Rachel Bennett
- University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Leslie Blackhall
- University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Kate Gordon
- Virginia Commonwealth University Health, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - James Hayes
- Trident Systems, Inc, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Nutta Homdee
- Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Randy Jones
- University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Kathleen Lichti
- University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Yudel Martinez
- University of Virginia School of Engineering & Applied Science, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Sahar Mohammadi
- Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Emmanuel Ogunjirin
- University of Virginia School of Engineering & Applied Science, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Nyota Patel
- University of Virginia School of Engineering & Applied Science, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - John Lach
- The George Washington University School of Engineering & Applied Science, Washington, DC, United States
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Smith TO, Pearson M, Smith MJ, Fletcher J, Irving L, Lister S. Effectiveness of caregiver interventions for people with cancer and non-cancer-related chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Pain 2022; 16:71-83. [PMID: 35111316 PMCID: PMC8801680 DOI: 10.1177/20494637211022771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with chronic pain frequently have difficulties in completing everyday tasks to maintain independence and quality of life. Informal caregivers may provide support to these individuals. However, the effectiveness of interventions to train and support these individuals in caregiving remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the evidence to determine the effectiveness of caregiver interventions to support informal caregivers of people with chronic pain. METHODS A systematic review of published and unpublished literature databases was undertaken (9 April 2021). Trials reporting clinical outcomes of caregiver interventions to train informal caregivers to support community-dwelling people with chronic pain were included. Meta-analysis was undertaken and each outcome was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. RESULTS Twenty-seven studies were eligible (N = 3427 patients). Twenty-four studies assessed patients with cancer pain and three with musculoskeletal pain. No other patient groups were identified. There was very low-quality evidence that caregiver interventions were beneficial for caregiver health-related quality of life (standardised mean difference = 0.26, 95% confidence interval = 0.01 to 0.52; N = 231). There was moderate-quality evidence that caregiving interventions were effective in reducing pain in the short-term (standardised mean difference = 0.16, 95% confidence interval = -0.29 to -0.03). There was low-quality evidence that caregiving interventions had no beneficial effect over usual care for psychological outcomes, fatigue, coping or physical function in the long-term. CONCLUSION Caregiving interventions may be effective for patients and caregivers but only in the shorter-term and for a limited number of outcomes. There is insufficient evidence examining the effectiveness of caregiver interventions for people with non-cancer-related pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby O. Smith
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Matthew Pearson
- Dynamic Health, Cambridgeshire Community Services, Huntingdon, UK
| | | | - Jessica Fletcher
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lisa Irving
- Physiotherapy Department, Sunderland Royal Hospital, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Sunderland, UK
| | - Sarah Lister
- Physiotherapy Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
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