Family members of cancer patients: Needs, quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression

Preparing for Cancer: A Qualitative Study of Hispanic Patient and Caregiver Needs

BACKGROUND

Cancer disproportionately affects Hispanic populations, yet the preparedness of Hispanic caregiver-patient dyads facing cancer remains understudied. This study aims to identify essential components of preparedness needs and inform future psychosocial interventions for this demographic.

METHODS

Secondary analyses were conducted utilizing focus groups to develop a communication intervention for Hispanic patients and caregivers. Transcripts were qualitatively analyzed using NVivo v12 (2020).

RESULTS

Analysis revealed symptom management and treatment comprehension as pivotal aspects of preparation. Additionally, preparedness among our sample emerged by addressing the multifaceted dimensions of preparedness, including psychological, emotional, educational, familial, practical, financial, and spiritual aspects.

CONCLUSIONS

Tailoring interventions encompassing diverse dimensions of preparedness can foster inclusivity and maximize their impact on supportive measures. This underscores the necessity for culturally sensitive approaches when delivering interventions supporting Hispanic individuals navigating the challenges of cancer.

Communication between Caregivers of Adults with Cancer and Healthcare Professionals: a Review of Communication Experiences, Associated Factors, Outcomes, and Interventions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Family/unpaid caregivers play an important role in cancer care. This review aims to summarize caregiver communication experiences with healthcare professionals (HCPs).

RECENT FINDINGS

The Caregiver-Centered Communication model defines five core functions that HCPs should achieve when interacting with caregivers, including fostering relationships, exchanging information, recognizing and responding to caregiver emotions, aiding in decision making, and assisting in patient care management. The literature shows that caregivers have both positive and negative communication experiences with HCPs with respect to these five core functions. Factors at the caregiver (e.g., demographic characteristics, information sources, caregiving duration, health status), patient (e.g., demographic and clinical characteristics), and HCP levels (e.g., time constraints in clinical settings, communication skills) are associated with caregiver-HCP communication quality. Studies further show that these communication experiences may affect caregiver outcomes, including quality of life, mental health, resilience, and satisfaction with cancer care. Moreover, poor quality caregiver-HCP communication is associated with patient readmission to the hospital and unmet care needs. Interventions for caregivers or patient-caregiver dyads have been shown to enhance caregiver confidence and increase their engagement in communication with HCPs. Interventions for HCPs have shown efficacy in improving their communication skills, particularly in involving caregivers in decision-making discussions. Given time constraints during medical visits, we suggest conducting a caregiver assessment by navigators prior to visits to understand their communication needs. Additionally, reimbursing HCPs for time spent communicating with caregivers during visits could be beneficial. More research is needed to better understand how to enhance caregiver-HCP communication quality.

Difficulties of Cancer Patients' Relatives in End-of-Life Discussions: Validation of a Questionnaire

CONTEXT

Despite the potential benefits and the desire for end-of-life communication, it rarely occurs in the familial context. Relatives play a significant role in the communication process; thus, it is crucial to understand the difficulties that they face.

OBJECTIVES

To develop and evaluate the relatives' version of the Difficulties in End-of-Life Discussions - Family Inventory (DEOLD-FI-r) regarding its factor structure, reliability and validity.

METHODS

Relatives of patients with advanced cancer were recruited in a German hospital. The factor structure of the questionnaire was explored. Construct validity was examined through correlations between the DEOLD-FI-r and measures of avoidance of cancer communication, quality of life, distress, and experienced difficulty during end-of-life discussions. Additionally, we examined the group difference between those who had and had not engaged in the conversation.

RESULTS

About 111 relatives completed the survey (mean age 55.5 years, 52% female). The final version of the DEOLD-FI-r contained 23 items (α = .92). The exploratory factor analysis resulted in three factors explaining 74% of the variance. Each factor described another dimension of potential communication barriers in end-of-life discussions: 1) Own emotional burden, 2) Relational and patient-related difficulties, 3) Negative attitudes. Construct validity was supported by correlations consistent with our hypotheses and less reported communication difficulty by those who had already talked about the end-of-life with their relative (t(106) = 5.38, P < .001, d = 0.8).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that the DEOLD-FI-r is a valid and reliable instrument for the systematic assessment of difficulties in family end-of-life communication. By focusing on relatives, it complements the already validated patient-version.

Unmet Needs and Burden of Caregivers of Patients Being Evaluated for a Liver Transplant Are Similar to Those of Cancer Caregivers

BACKGROUND

The caregivers (CG) of patients with serious illnesses often experience stress and psycho-social issues. High burden is expected for CG of patients for whom liver transplant (LT) is the only curative option. This study aims to measure the burden, unmet needs, and quality of life (QoL) of CG of patients being evaluated for LT.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled CG of patients being evaluated for LT. CaTCoN (Caregiving Tasks, Consequences and Needs Questionnaire) was used to assess caregiving consequences and needs related to interactions with healthcare professionals (HCPs). ZBI-12 (Zarit Burden Interview) was used to assess CG burden, and PROMIS-29 (Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) to assess QoL. Caregivers completed the study instruments in person, while they were in the clinic. CaTCoN scores from our study were compared with cancer caregivers' historical data.

RESULTS

18 CG were enrolled, mean age 54 [14] years; 72% were white and 77% were women. 61% worked full time; 45% provided >20 hours of care per week. Two-thirds cared for patients with alcoholic liver disease. All CaTCoN scores were no different from CGs of cancer patients (all P > .05). The total ZBI score (mean SD 12.4 [8.3]) did not differ from published scores for CG of cancer patients (12.0 [8.5]). 44% had high (≥12) ZBI scores reflecting "high burden." Their PROMIS-29 T scores, compared to those with low burden, showed more anxiety (P = .01), depression (P = .04), fatigue (P = .02) and deteriorated social function (P = .009). Physical function and social function were diminished among these CGs compared to the general population (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

CGs of patients being evaluated for LT suffer from high burden similar to cancer CGs and have reduced physical and social function. Despite the small sample size, the data completion rate was almost 100%.

Relatives' Unmet Needs in the Last Year of Life of Patients With Advanced Cancer: Results of a Dutch Prospective, Longitudinal Study (eQuiPe)

Objective(s): Unmet needs of relatives of patients with advanced cancer not only reduce their own health-related quality of life, but may also negatively affect patients' health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess changes in relatives' unmet needs of patients with advanced cancer in the last year of life and to identify differences in unmet needs by gender and type of relationship. Methods: Relatives of patients with advanced cancer in the Netherlands were included in a prospective, longitudinal, observational study. Relatives' unmet needs were measured every 3 months with an adapted version of the Problems and Needs in Palliative Care (PNPC) questionnaire Caregiver form (44 items, 12 domains). Questionnaires completed in the patients' last year of life were analyzed. Change of unmet needs in the last year, and differences in unmet needs by gender and type of relationship were analyzed. Results: A total of 409 relatives were included with a median of 4 unmet needs in the patient's last year. Unmet needs were most prevalent at all time points during the last year in the domains "caring for the patient" (highest need = 35%) and "psychological issues" (highest need = 40%). The number of unmet needs of relatives did not change significantly during the last year of life (P=.807). There were no significant differences in the number of unmet needs between male and female partners and between partners and other relatives. Conclusion: The most unmet needs for relatives were in the domains "caring for the patient" and "psychological issues." Professional support should focus on these items. Within these domains, it seems especially important that relatives get more knowledge and support about what scenarios to expect and how to deal with them.

Analyzing the Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among Relatives of Cancer Patients in Kuwait

INTRODUCTION

The mental health impact on relatives of cancer patients frequently goes unnoticed and is commonly undervalued. This study aimed to explore how personal factors such as the patient's degree of kin, marital status, cancer stage, and number of diagnosed family members are correlated with the severity of depression and anxiety among relatives of cancer patients.

METHOD

This self-administered cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kuwait, employing a random sampling method to recruit participants. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the validated Arabic versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale.

RESULTS

The mean age of the relatives of the cancer patients was 38.36 years (±13.44), with a female majority (59.72%). The prevalence of depression in the examined population was 60.1%, with the majority having mild depression (39.3%). On the other hand, the prevalence of anxiety in the same group was 51.2%, with the majority having mild disease (27.5%). Being female and having a cancer patient relative in the metastasis stage put patients' relatives at a greater risk of depression and anxiety.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of cancer necessitates mental health screenings for patients' relatives, as findings from our study indicate that these individuals are at a high risk of developing depression and anxiety. Targeted support and referrals to specialists are crucial for mitigating the impact on their well-being.

Experiences and Support Needs of Caregivers of Patients with Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome via Online Bulletin Board in the USA, Canada and UK

INTRODUCTION

Patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) face considerable challenges in disease management and often require caregiver support. Reports on the burden of caring for patients with advanced cancer suggest that caregivers receive insufficient support. Our research aimed to identify key challenges for caregivers of patients with higher-risk MDS.

METHODS

Online bulletin board is a qualitative research methodology which enables data collection via a web-based platform. A mix of moderator-led discussion guide and interparticipant discussion provides the caregiver insights as online dialogue, which then undergo content analysis to extract key findings.

RESULTS

Sixteen caregivers participated from the USA (n = 5), UK (n = 6) and Canada (n = 5). Content analysis identified the caregiver experience in higher-risk MDS as multifactorial, with seven key categories of caregiver burden: caregiver role and burden, mental health, family dynamics, disease experience, treatment experience, healthcare professional (HCP) interactions and information and education.

CONCLUSION

There is significant impact and burden on caregivers of patients with higher-risk MDS, which varies depending on disease stage, choice (or lack of choice) of treatments, and the personal situation of the caregiver. Emotional stress occurs mostly at diagnosis/prognosis stage and when told to 'watch and wait', which is amplified when HCPs are perceived to lack knowledge/expertise about MDS. There is a need for better education about MDS for HCPs, patients, caregivers and the general community; a need for improved communication between patients/caregivers and HCPs; and a high unmet need for better mental health and emotional support for both patient and caregiver.

Digital Health Psychosocial Intervention in Adult Patients With Cancer and Their Families: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with cancer and their families often experience significant distress and deterioration in their quality of life. Psychosocial interventions were used to address patients' and families' psychosocial needs. Digital technology is increasingly being used to deliver psychosocial interventions to patients with cancer and their families.

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to review the characteristics and effectiveness of digital health interventions on psychosocial outcomes in adult patients with cancer and their family members.

METHODS

Databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-experimental studies that tested the effects of a digital intervention on psychosocial outcomes. The Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal checklists for RCTs and quasi-experimental studies were used to assess quality. Standardized mean differences (ie, Hedges g) were calculated to compare intervention effectiveness. Subgroup analysis was planned to examine the effect of delivery mode, duration of the intervention, type of control, and dosage on outcomes using a random-effects modeling approach.

RESULTS

A total of 65 studies involving 10,361 patients (mean 159, SD 166; range 9-803 patients per study) and 1045 caregivers or partners (mean 16, SD 54; range 9-244 caregivers or partners per study) were included in the systematic review. Of these, 32 studies were included in a meta-analysis of the effects of digital health interventions on quality of life, anxiety, depression, distress, and self-efficacy. Overall, the RCT studies' general quality was mixed (applicable scores: mean 0.61, SD 0.12; range 0.38-0.91). Quasi-experimental studies were generally of moderate to high quality (applicable scores: mean 0.75, SD 0.08; range 0.63-0.89). Psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral strategies were commonly used. More than half (n=38, 59%) did not identify a conceptual or theoretical framework. Most interventions were delivered through the internet (n=40, 62%). The median number of intervention sessions was 6 (range 1-56). The frequency of the intervention was highly variable, with self-paced (n=26, 40%) being the most common. The median duration was 8 weeks. The meta-analysis results showed that digital psychosocial interventions were effective in improving patients' quality of life with a small effect size (Hedges g=0.05, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.10; I2=42.7%; P=.01). The interventions effectively reduced anxiety and depression symptoms in patients, as shown by moderate effect sizes on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale total scores (Hedges g=-0.72, 95% CI -1.89 to 0.46; I2=97.6%; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of digital health interventions on quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients. Future research with a clear description of the methodology to enhance the ability to perform meta-analysis is needed. Moreover, this study provides preliminary evidence to support the integration of existing digital health psychosocial interventions in clinical practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020189698; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=189698.

Harmful communication behaviors in cancer care: A systematic review of patients and family caregivers perspectives

OBJECTIVE

Issues regarding clinician communication remain an important source of complaints within healthcare. This systematic review aims to determine cancer patients' and their family caregivers' views on which clinicians' communication behaviors can harm (i.e. eliciting negative feelings/consequences for patients/family caregivers).

METHODS

We searched for all types of peer-reviewed studies that determined adult (≥18 years) cancer patients' and/or family caregivers' perspectives on which clinicians' communication behaviors can harm in several databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Emcare, PsycINFO and Academic Search Premier), supplemented by expert-consultation. Studies were screened using the Artificial intelligence screening tool of ASReview and data was analyzed using Thematic Analysis. To assess the quality of the studies the Qualsyst critical appraisal tool was used.

RESULTS

A total of 47 studies were included. Four main themes of harmful communication behaviors were identified: (1) Lack of tailored information provision (e.g. giving too little or too much/specific information) (2) Lack of tailored decision making (ranging from; patient exclusion, to the patients' responsibility, and/or haste) (3) Lack of feeling seen and heard (seen as a disease, not as a human being; not listened to concerns and emotions) (4) Lack of feeling held and remembered (forgotten agreements; lack of care continuity).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reveal an overview of patients' and family caregivers' perspectives on which clinicians' communication behaviors can harm. Harm could be prevented when information and decision involvement are tailored and patients' and family caregivers' needs to feel seen, heard, held and remembered are met.

"You nearly feel a little bit like you've less right to grieve": a qualitative study on the impact of cancer on adult siblings

PURPOSE

Family members of cancer patients experience a range of challenges and are impacted in various ways by cancer. To our knowledge, the impact of cancer on adult siblings has yet to be explored. Sibling relationships are one of the longest relationships individuals have across the lifespan. Thus, the current study sought to investigate the perspectives of siblings of those who previously had cancer.

METHODS

Ten participants were recruited using purposive sampling. A qualitative, cross-sectional design was implemented with both virtual and in-person semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The researchers identified five themes relating to both the impact of cancer on siblings and the supports they received: changes in family relationships, sibling's grief is forgotten, benefits of social support networks, supporting their sibling and caregiving and self-support.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer organizations and support services should focus on signposting services for siblings in order to ensure they can access support. Further research is needed with siblings to gain greater insight into what supports siblings feel are available for them to access, whether there are any for them to access or how supports can be improved.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

The provision of appropriate psychological support for siblings of cancer patients will ensure they can provide optimal support and care to their siblings. This will in turn benefit cancer patients along their cancer trajectory as adequate support from their caregivers will enhance their quality of life.

The Unmet Needs of Pancreatic Cancer Carers Are Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Patients and Carers

Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates, and patients experience debilitating symptoms. Family carers provide essential daily care. This study determined the prevalence of and risk factors for unmet supportive care needs among carers for pancreatic cancer patients and examined which carer needs were associated with anxiety and depression in carers and patients. Eighty-four pancreatic cancer patients and their carers were recruited. The carers completed a needs survey (SCNS-P&C). Both carers and patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Log binomial regression was used to identify associations between carer needs and anxiety and depression among carers and patients. The top 10 moderate-to-high unmet needs reported by ≥28% of carers were related to healthcare (e.g., discussing concerns with doctors) and information need domains (e.g., information about a patient's physical needs), plus one other item related to hospital parking. Being male or caring for a patient within 4 months of their diagnosis were associated with greater unmet needs. Some unmet needs, including 'accessing information about treatments' and 'being involved in patient care', were associated with both carers and patients having anxiety and depression. Carers should be involved in health care consultations and provided with information and opportunities to discuss concerns.

Does Avoiding Distressing Thoughts and Feelings Influence the Relationship between Carer Subjective Burden and Anxiety Symptoms in Family Carers of People with Dementia?

Anxiety remains understudied in family carers of people with dementia. Understanding factors that moderate the relationship between stressors and anxiety symptoms in this population is critical to inform interventions. This study examined whether generic experiential avoidance (AAQ-II) and experiential avoidance specific to caregiving-related thoughts and feelings (EACQ) moderate the relationship between subjective burden (ZBI-12) and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7) in carers of people with dementia. The first model (R2 = .66, ∆R2 = .03) exploring the moderating effect of AAQ-II demonstrated a significant interaction term between AAQ-II and subjective burden. The second model (R2 = .53, ∆R2 = .03), exploring the moderating effect of EACQ, demonstrated a significant interaction term between EACQ and subjective burden. These results provide evidence that carers with higher levels of experiential avoidance may be particularly prone to the negative effect of subjective burden on anxiety symptoms. Clinical implications for assessment of experiential avoidance and its treatment in carers of people with dementia are discussed.

Practice of Supporting Family Caregivers of Patients with Life-Threatening Diseases: A Two-phase Study Among Healthcare Professionals

Background: Although support for family caregivers is an essential component of palliative care, routine provision of such support is often lacking. To improve support for family caregivers, we assessed current practice and influencing factors as perceived by healthcare professionals. Methods: A two-phase study was conducted including a survey exploring healthcare professionals' practice of supporting family caregivers in Western urbanized Netherlands in 2017, and focus groups exploring facilitators and barriers to supporting family caregivers in 2018. Focus group data were thematically analyzed with deductive coding based on the COM-B system. Results: Of the 379 survey respondents (response 11%), 374 were eligible (physicians, 28%; nurses, 64%; nurse assistants, 9%). The respondents practiced in academic hospitals (52%), general hospitals (31%), nursing homes (11%) and hospices (5%). They reported to always (38%), most of the time (37%), sometimes (21%) or never (5%) provide support to family caregivers during the illness trajectory. Respondents reported to always (28%), sometimes (39%), or never (33%) provide support after death. Four focus group discussions with 22 healthcare professionals elicited motivational facilitators and barriers to supporting family caregivers (e.g., relationship with family caregivers, deriving satisfaction from supporting them), and factors related to capability (e.g., (lacking) conversational skills, knowledge) and opportunity (e.g., (un)availability of protocols and time). Conclusions: Support for family caregivers, especially after the patient's death, is not systematically integrated in working procedures of healthcare professionals. The barriers and facilitators identified in this study can inform the development of an intervention aiming to enhance support for family caregivers.

Family functioning and psychosocial symptoms among Latinx patients coping with advanced cancer

OBJECTIVES

This brief report aims to describe and determine the association of family functioning (e.g., cohesion and expressiveness) with psychosocial needs among Spanish Latinx patients coping with advanced cancers.

METHODS

Descriptive and correlation analyses were performed on data from 103 patients coping with advanced cancer (Stages III and IV). The measures used were the Family Relationships Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: General.

RESULTS

Results indicated that most of the participants had low family function (65%). Participants with higher family functioning (35%) had high levels of quality of life [r(103) .318, p < .002]. A higher level of quality of life was also strongly associated with lower levels of anxiety [r(95) -.653, p < .000], lower levels of depression [r(95) -.733, p < .000], and lower levels of hopelessness [r(95) -.585, p = .000]. A total of 22.3% of Latinx advanced cancer patients reported poor cohesiveness; those with low cohesiveness also had higher levels of depression [r(103) -.28, p = .004] and anxiety [r(103) -.27, p = .005]. Correlations between expressiveness and hopelessness were significant; namely, those with higher expressiveness had lower hopelessness [r(103) -.274, p = .005].

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

Findings present a high correlation between family functioning and psychosocial symptoms.

The Feasibility and Acceptability of a Needs-Oriented Psychoeducational Intervention Among Caregivers of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the psychoeducational interventions for caregivers of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a needs-oriented psychoeducational intervention among caregivers of AYA cancer patients.

METHODS

In this 2-arm (parallel-group), pilot randomized controlled trial, participants were randomized to the intervention or control group. Participants in the control group received usual care, whereas those in the intervention group received a needs-oriented psychoeducational intervention via WeChat as well as the usual care. Feasibility was evaluated on recruitment, attrition, and adherence rates and the data collection process. Acceptability was assessed based on participants' satisfaction with and perceived usefulness of the intervention, collected using a questionnaire. In addition, a semistructured interview was conducted to explore their experiences.

RESULTS

Twenty-four caregivers of AYA cancer patients were recruited, with a consent rate of 61.5%. The attrition and response rates 5 weeks after baseline were 8.3% and 91.7%. Among the 12 participants in the intervention group, 10 (83.3%) completed all of the 5 weekly sessions. Most of the participants were satisfied with the program and perceived its usefulness. The semistructured interviews revealed 3 major categories: facilitators of participation, perception of the intervention, and perceived benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

The needs-oriented psychoeducational intervention delivered through WeChat is feasible for and acceptable to caregivers of AYA cancer patients. A full-scale study is warranted to examine the effects of this intervention on caregivers' health outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The WeChat-based, needs-oriented psychoeducational intervention may be beneficial to improve caregivers' health outcomes.

[Unmet needs in caregivers of patients with breast cancer: dyadic perception]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the unmet needs of informal caregivers of women with breast cancer (CaMa) from a dyadic perspective.

METHOD

An exploratory, cross-sectional and qualitative study was carried out through in-depth interviews, completed in the Department of Breast Tumors of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico. Three dyads (informal primary caregivers and patients, respectively) were included. The analysis was performed using an inductive approach. Interpretive descriptive analysis was chosen as the most appropriate methodological design.

RESULTS

The main unmet needs of the informal primary caregivers, perceived by the dyads, were psychological (such as the negative feelings caused by the mood changes of the patients) and informative (for example, the caregivers asked for information related to side effects and how to care and that the writing information use colloquial terms).

CONCLUSIONS

The unmet needs are the result of taking care, the level of affective commitment they have with the patient and the lack of training for care. The study highlights the relevance of planning interventions from a dyadic perspective.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Portuguese version of the family resilience questionnaire - short form (FaRE-SF-P) in women with breast cancer

Background

A diagnosis of cancer, and the resulting treatment process, can be perceived as a life-threatening event, affecting not only patients but also their social network and, more specifically, their relatives. While the ability to cope and adjust to difficult health situations may be challenging, family resilience may optimize a positive adaptation to adversity and contribute to enhance the patient's quality of life. The Family Resilience Questionnaire (FaRE) is a self-report measure of family resilience that assesses this construct systematically. We aimed to validate the Portuguese version of a short form of the FaRE (FaRE-SF-P) in a sample of women with breast cancer.

Methods

147 women recently diagnosed with early breast cancer were recruited at the Champalimaud Clinical Centre in Lisbon. Participants completed psychometric assessment including the Portuguese version of the FaRE-SF-P, composed by two subscales of the original version - the FaRE Perceived Family Coping (FaRE-PFC) and the FaRE Communication and Cohesion (FaRE-CC). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess the factor structure of the FaRE-SF-P. Construct validity was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for divergent validity, and the Modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (mMOS-SS) as well as the social functioning subscale from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) for convergent validity.

Results

The CFA results confirmed a correlated two-factor structure model consistent with the Perceived Family Coping and the Communication and Cohesion subscales. Internal consistency reliability indicated good values both for Perceived Family Coping and Communication and Cohesion subscales. The results for construct validity showed acceptable convergent and divergent validity.

Discussion

The FaRE-SF-P showed good psychometric properties demonstrating to be a valid and reliable family resilience measure to use in Portuguese women diagnosed with breast cancer. Since FaRE-SF-P is a short instrument it may be a useful screening tool in an oncological clinical practice routine.

Examining the Impact of Different Components of Sleep Quality on Anxiety Among Family Carers of People with Dementia

Existing interventions for family carers of people with dementia tend to be less effective for anxiety than for depression. Therefore, identifying factors affecting carer anxiety is important to inform future interventions. This study conducted 2 multiple regression analyses using a sample of 91 family carers. The first regression model (∆R² = .24), exploring the impact of demographic variables and carer stressors, demonstrated that hours of caring (β = .33) and overall sleep quality (β = .28) were significant predictors of anxiety. To further investigate the impact of sleep quality, the second model (∆R² = .24) focussed on exploring the differential impact of various components of sleep quality on anxiety. Findings demonstrated that subjective sleep quality (β = .33) and sleep disturbances (β = .22) were significant predictors. Hours of caring per week, subjective sleep quality and sleep disturbances seem to be critical for treating anxiety in family carers. Future studies should investigate whether targeting these variables could improve carer anxiety.

Internet-delivered guided self-help acceptance and commitment therapy for family carers of people with dementia (iACT4CARERS): a feasibility study

OBJECTIVES

The feasibility of research into internet-delivered guided self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for family carers of people with dementia is not known. This study assessed this in an uncontrolled feasibility study.

METHOD

Family carers of people with dementia with mild to moderate anxiety or depression were recruited from primary and secondary healthcare services in the UK. Participants were offered eight, guided, self-help online ACT sessions adapted for the needs of family carers of people with dementia with optional online peer support groups. Pre-defined primary indicators of success included recruitment of 30 eligible carers over 6 months and ≥70% completing at least two online sessions.

RESULTS

Thirty-three participants (110% of the target sample) were recruited over 6 months and 30 participants (91%) completed two or more sessions, and thus both indicators of success were met. Further, 70% of participants completed seven or all eight sessions, and 27% of participants were lost to follow-up, but none of the reasons for early withdrawal were related to the intervention.

CONCLUSION

This study supports the feasibility, including recruitment and treatment completion. A full-scale trial to assess the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of the intervention including its long-term effects is warranted.

Unmet needs of the Iranian mothers of the children with cancer and the identification of the related factors: A descriptive-correlational study

Introduction

Parents' caring responsibilities lead to imbalances in roles, functions, and emotions, confronting them with new needs that, if left unaddressed, have adverse consequences for the lives of all family members. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the significant unmet needs of the mothers of the children with cancer.

Materials and methods

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran in 2019-2020 on 215 mothers of the children with cancer visiting the hospitals affiliated with medical universities. The study population was selected through convenience sampling method and according to the inclusion criteria. The FIN questionnaire consisting of two subscales, FIN-Import and FIN-Fulfillment, with 40 items, was used to collect data.

Results

The mean age of the mothers participating in the study was 34.77 ± 7.91 years, and the mean age of the children with cancer was 9.77 ± 14.37 years. The mean scores of FIN-Import and FIN-Fulfillment were 92.88 ± 7.97 and 70.82 ± 17.89, respectively. The phrase "To know the facts concerning my child's prognosis" with 23%, and the phrase "To be told about the people who could help with problems" with 22.8% were the most common unmet needs reported by the parents.

Conclusion

The present study indicated that caring for a child with cancer had confronted mothers with new needs to be met; however, not all of these needs had been satisfied. Awareness about the unmet needs of these mothers and planning to manage those needs can lay the groundwork to improve their health.

Quality of Life and Needs Assessment of Cancer Patients’ Caregivers in the Saudi Culture

Background: Cancer is a chronic health condition that requires long-term treatment and care. Diagnosis of cancer is a family crisis that has a bad impact on patients and their caregivers, which can worsen the quality of life of the entire family members. It would be relevant to highlight the changes in the quality of life among cancer patients' caregivers within the Saudi culture to strengthen their involvement in the plan of treating cancer patients.

Objective: To assess the needs and quality of life of Saudi cancer patients' caregivers by using the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire WHOQOL-BREF and the Family Inventory of Needs (FIN) questionnaire for family caregivers.

Materials and methods: Of 376 caregivers invited to participate, 270 (72%) accepted and completed the questionnaire. The study was carried out in outpatient clinics and oncology inpatient wards of Princess Noorah Oncology Center in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Results: The study found that 53 % of Saudi caregivers reported a good quality of life in the following domains: psychological, social relationship, and environment. On the other hand, the lower quality of life scores were stated for the physical health domain in almost two third of participants (67 %). Poor quality of life was reported among the male caregivers of the older age group who had a lower level of education and had a short term of caring (fewer than 12 months). Regarding the need assessment, most of the 20 needs items were rated important and were related to patient care. Whereas, the least important needs were related to the caregivers' health.

Conclusion:There was a significant association between quality of life scores and the demographic characteristics of the caregivers, addressing these factors in addition to the assessment of the caregivers' needs during medical care will provide holistically care for the patients and their caregivers to increase their quality of life.

Family as a Bridge to Improve Meaning in Latinx Individuals Coping with Cancer

Background:

Family and meaning-making resources are culturally congruent and help support Latinx coping with cancer.

Objectives:

To explore Latinx advanced cancer patients' perspectives on the role of family and meaning/purpose in adjustment to advanced cancer.

Methods:

A qualitative study was conducted. In-depth interviews were performed and transcripts were analyzed using the method from applied thematic analysis.

Setting/Subject:

Participants were patients with any advanced cancer diagnosis, recruited from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York; Lincoln Medical Center (LMC), New York; and Ponce Health Science University (PHSU), Puerto Rico.

Measurements:

Sociodemographic and semistructured interview.

Results:

N = 24 in-depth interviews were completed by Latinx advanced cancer patients (Stage III and IV). When evaluating patients' perspectives on the role of family and meaning/purpose in adjustment to advanced cancer, the team generated three categories: (1) family support, (2) family communication, and (3) include support for the family. Many patients reported the importance of family as a source of meaning and social support in the process of cancer diagnosis and treatment. They also reported communication as central to process information and planning. Also, participants describe their desire to incorporate family members into therapy and for encouraging them to seek counseling.

Conclusions:

Results highlight the need to include syntonic cultural values such as family and meaning for Latinx individuals coping with advanced cancer in psychological interventions.

Interventions improving well-being of adult cancer patients' caregivers: A systematic review

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine what kind of psychosocial interventions aimed at improving the well-being of adult cancer patient caregivers were developed, and to describe the methodological characteristics and clinical effectiveness of the interventions which could be included in the nursing care plans.

DESIGN

Systematic review DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of three databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) was conducted to identify peer-reviewed papers published between years 2004-2019.

REVIEW METHODS

The review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute manual for systematic reviews. Data were extracted and appraised by three reviewers using standardized checklists. Narrative synthesis was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

A total of 37 studies underwent analysis. Most of the studies described psychoeducational interventions, designed for patient-caregiver dyads, delivered face-to-face. There was a great variety in caregiver outcomes and measurement tools used. Even though most studies used a randomized controlled design and standardized intervention protocols, many reported problems with recruitment and attrition. Most studies reported that the intervention improved caregiver outcomes, yet the majority of them failed to report effect sizes.

CONCLUSION

There are currently a plethora of successful interventions available for cancer patient caregivers which can be included to the nursing care plan. Psychoeducational online interventions which include a social support component may have the best potential in supporting caregivers. It is important to address specific caregiver needs at different cancer stages rather than general needs of caregivers in future interventions.

IMPACT

This review suggests that despite a large number of different interventions which can be included in the nursing care plan to improve the support offered to caregivers, some issues should be addressed while designing an intervention study. The emphasis should be placed on reporting effect sizes, focusing on specific caregiver needs and improving recruitment, retention strategies and sustainability of caregiver interventions.

Unmet supportive care needs of people with advanced cancer and their caregivers: a systematic scoping review

Examining and addressing unmet care needs is integral to improving the provision and quality of cancer services. This review explored the prevalence of unmet supportive care needs, and factors associated with unmet need, in adults with advanced cancers (solid and hematological malignancies) and their caregivers. Electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE) were searched, producing 85 papers representing 81 included studies. People with advanced cancer reported the highest unmet needs in financial, health system and information, psychological, and physical and daily living domains, whereas caregivers reported the highest unmet needs in psychological, and patient care and support domains. Distress, depression, and anxiety were associated with higher unmet needs across all unmet need domains for people with advanced cancer and their caregivers. Substantial heterogeneity in study populations and methods was observed. Findings from this review can inform targeted strategies and interventions to address these unmet needs in people with advanced cancer.

Depression and Quality of Life Among Caregivers of Pediatric Cancer Patients

Background

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression, depressive symptoms, and quality of life among caregivers of pediatric cancer patients and the associated risk factors.

Methodology

In total, 73 participants were recruited for this cross-sectional study in King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital. Two self-administered questionnaires were used, the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9) and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL), to assess the depressive symptoms as well as the prevalence of clinical depression and quality of life, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) to assess the level of depression and quality of life and the associated factors using Fisher’s exact and Mann-Whitney tests.

Results

It was found that 90.4% were females and 9.6% were males, with 49.3% being between the ages of 31 and 40. Regarding the level of depression, 47.80% had mild depression. There were no significant associations between the baseline characteristics and the level of depression. Gender was significantly associated with all four domains of quality of life, age was significant in physical health and environmental domains, duration of illness was significant only in the physical health domain, while education level was found to be not significantly associated with any of the domains.

Conclusions

This study found that nearly half of the participants had mild levels of depression, and the four domains of the WHOQOL were significantly affected by several risk factors. We recommend further research into this topic with larger sample sizes, as well as a follow-up assessment of caregivers for a more accurate representation of caregivers’ depression and quality of life. We recommend that in addition to the assessment of pediatric cancer patients, caregivers must also be assessed due to the burden associated with the task of being a caregiver.

The relationship between hope levels and unmet needs of caregivers of advanced cancer patients†

AIM

The effects in cultural and health provisions can lead to different unmet support needs. Hope is seen as an important support, a supportive power, and an efficient coping strategy for cancer caregivers. The purpose of this study in Turkish society is to determine supportive care needs of caregivers of cancer patients, to determine the hope levels of those caring for cancer patients and foresee how variables and hope can trigger needs.

METHODS

To identify the unmet needs and hope levels of caregivers of advanced cancer patients in Turkish society. Data were collected using the Supportive Care Needs of Caregivers Scale and Herth Hope Index.

RESULTS

More than half of the advanced cancer caregivers (56.51%) reported unmet care needs. Their unmet needs and hope levels were above average. Regression analysis showed the total score for hope was related to health care and information needs, work-social needs.

CONCLUSION

Hope was related to health care and information needs and work-social needs. Oncology nurses should focus on the unmet needs of caregivers, taking into account their cultural differences in order to raise their hopes.

Therapist-Assisted Web-Based Intervention for Prolonged Grief Disorder After Cancer Bereavement: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Bereavement due to cancer increases the risk of prolonged grief disorder. However, specialized treatment options for prolonged grief after a loss due to illness are still scarce.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to extend previous findings by evaluating a web-based cognitive behavioral intervention with asynchronous therapist support, consisting of structured writing tasks adapted specifically for prolonged grief after cancer bereavement.

METHODS

The intervention was evaluated in a purely web-based randomized waitlist-controlled trial. Open-access recruitment of participants was conducted on the web. Prolonged grief (Inventory of Complicated Grief), depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, somatization, sleep quality, and mental and physical health were assessed on the web via validated self-report measures.

RESULTS

A total of 87 participants were randomized into the intervention group (IG; 44/87, 51%) or the waitlist control group (43/87, 49%). Of the participants, 7% (6/87) dropped out of the study (5/44, 11%, in the IG). Of the 39 completers in the IG, 37 (95%) completed all intervention tasks. The intervention reduced symptoms of prolonged grief (intention-to-treat: P<.001; η²=0.34; Cohen d=0.80) to a clinically significant extent. It had favorable effects on depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, and overall mental health but not on somatization, sleep quality, or physical health.

CONCLUSIONS

The web-based intervention for prolonged grief after cancer bereavement is effective in reducing symptoms of prolonged grief disorder and accompanying syndromes in a timely, easily realizable manner and addresses specific challenges of bereavement to illness. Considering web-based approaches in future mental health care policy and practice can reduce health care gaps for those who are bereaved to cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Clinical Trial Register U1111-1186-6255; https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00011001.

Identifying the prevalence of unmet supportive care needs among family caregivers of cancer patients: an Italian investigation on home palliative care setting

PURPOSE

Family caregivers (FCs) are crucial resources in caring for cancer patients at home. The aim of this investigation was (1) to measure the prevalence of unmet needs reported by FCs of cancer patients in home palliative care, and (2) to investigate whether their needs change as their socio-demographic characteristics and the patients' functional abilities change.

METHODS

FCs completed a battery of self-report questionnaires, including the Cancer Caregiving Tasks, Consequences, and Needs (CaTCoN).

RESULTS

Data were collected from 251 FCs (74 men and 177 women, mean age 58.5 ± 14.2 years). Most of the participants experienced a substantial caregiving workload related to practical help (89.8%), provided some or a lot of personal care (73.1%), and psychological support (67.7%) to patients. More than half of the FCs reported that the patient's disease caused them negative physical effects (62.7%). Emotional, psychosocial, and psychological needs were referred. Some FCs reported that the patient's disease caused them a lot of stress (57.3%) and that they did not have enough time for friends/acquaintances (69.5%) and family (55.7%). The need to see a psychologist also emerged (44.0%). Age, caregiving duration, and patients' functional status correlated with FCs' unmet needs. Women reported more negative social, physical, and psychological consequences and a more frequent need to talk to a psychologist.

CONCLUSION

The analysis demonstrated that cancer caregiving is burdensome. The results can guide the development and implementation of tailored programs or support policies so that FCs can provide appropriate care to patients while preserving their own well-being.

Living in Rural Areas and Receiving Cancer Treatment Away From Home: A Qualitative Study Foregrounding Temporality

We used explorative interviews to gauge (inter)personal, physiological, and emotional challenges of seven rural cancer patients who traveled long distances to cancer treatment centers. After a thematic analysis, we foregrounded experiences of temporality by using a phenomenologically inspired approach. The analysis resulted in three themes: (a) An epiphany of “what really matters in life”—time gains new meaning, (b) Feeling out of sync with others and own body—striving for coherence and simultaneity, and (c) Being torn between benefits of home and treatments site—time and distance as a tangible aspect of traveling and being away. Under these themes, 13 meaning units were generated, which reflected changes in temporality. During treatment, life primarily revolved around repeating circles of travel arrangements, staying on top of treatment schedule, and synchronizing a home life with a life away from home. Nurses should provide comprehensive care to enhance stability in cancer patients’ temporal experiences.

Anxiety and related factors among parents of patients with breast cancer after surgery in Japan: A multi-informant and multilevel study

AIM

Anxiety and its correlates in parents of patients with breast cancer have rarely been studied. We explored anxiety among parents of postoperative patients with breast cancer and its relationship with parents' social support and care needs and patients' anxiety.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey using self-report questionnaires and medical records was conducted among patients with breast cancer after surgery and their parents at four designated cancer care hospitals between September 2015 and June 2016. Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Parents provided information about social support and care needs. Multilevel analysis was performed on patient-parent paired data controlling for patient-level variation.

RESULTS

Participants included 107 patients, 83 mothers, and 51 fathers. The mean HADS anxiety scores reported by mothers and fathers were 7.2 and 6.5, respectively, which were higher than patients' HADS anxiety scores. Fulfillment of important care needs was related to lower anxiety among mothers and fathers (estimate = -1.38, p = .01). Lower family support and higher patient anxiety were associated with higher anxiety in mothers, but not fathers.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents of patients with breast cancer had high anxiety. Communication, providing cancer-related information, and fulfilling care needs can alleviate anxiety in parents of patients with breast cancer after surgery. Furthermore, increasing family support and decreasing patients' anxiety are essential to alleviating mothers' anxiety.

Higher levels of unmet support needs in spouses are associated with poorer quality of life - a descriptive cross-sectional study in the context of palliative home care

Background

Family caregivers often report having unmet support needs when caring for someone with life-threatening illness. They are at risk for psychological distress, adverse physical symptoms and negatively affected quality of life. This study aims to explore associations between family caregivers’ support needs and quality of life when caring for a spouse receiving specialized palliative home care.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used: 114 family caregivers completed the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) and the Quality of Life in Life-Threatening Illness – Family caregiver version (QOLLTI-F) and 43 of them also answered one open-ended question on thoughts about their situation. Descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression analyses, and qualitative content analysis, were used for analyses.

Results

Higher levels of unmet support needs were significantly associated with poorer quality of life. All CSNAT support domains were significantly associated with one or more quality of life domains in QOLLTI-F, with the exception of the QoL domain related to distress about the patient condition. However, family caregivers described in the open-ended question that their life was disrupted by the patient’s life-threatening illness and its consequences. Family caregivers reported most the need of more support concerning knowing what to expect in the future, which they also described as worries and concerns about what the illness would mean for them and the patient further on. Lowest QoL was reported in relation to the patient’s condition, and the family caregiver’s own physical and emotional health.

Conclusion

With a deeper understanding of the complexities of supporting family caregivers in palliative care, healthcare professionals might help to increase family caregivers’ QoL by revealing their problems and concerns. Thus, tailored support is needed.

The ANT Home Care Model in Palliative and End-of-Life Care. An Investigation on Family Caregivers' Satisfaction with the Services Provided

The World Health Organization plan for a Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030 has established some priorities in the field of palliative and end-of-life care. It states that "people require non-discriminatory access to good-quality palliative and end-of-life care" and recommends the "implementation of strategies for the provision of information, training, respite and support for informal caregivers". The priorities described are in line with the home care services that National Tumor Assistance (ANT) Foundation has been providing in Italy. This 5-years investigation was designed to measure caregivers' satisfaction and determine what types of support services are associated with greater satisfaction. 5.441 family caregivers filled out autonomously a 6-item questionnaire at the end of home care assistance, focusing on the level of satisfaction with the social and health services received. The overall data indicate a high satisfaction rate for the home care assistance received. In particular, participants rate positively the assistance provided by healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses and psychologists). The most appreciated aspects of assistance are those ensuring a global management of patients and their families, whereas an area of deficiency emerged was the continuity of care, suggesting the importance to implement the networks between the health care facilities and home care services. The present investigation constitutes a mean to highlight the aspects associated with greater satisfaction and the ones perceived as less satisfactory by caregivers. Moreover, this research constitutes a crucial instrument to improve home care assistance provided by ANT ensuring the best quality of life for both patients and their families.

Cancer caregivers unmet needs and emotional states across cancer treatment phases

Study objective

To investigate the association between family cancer caregivers’ unmet daily needs and emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress across their care recipient’s treatment phases.

Method

A cross-sectional study design and self-report questionnaires were used. Family caregivers (N = 237) of cancer patients in ambulatory cancer clinics were recruited from May to December 2017, and completed a sociodemographic and medical questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and Needs Assessment of Family Caregivers-Cancer Scale. Hierarchical linear regression was conducted to examine the influence of each predictor (sociodemographic variables, unmet personal care and role management needs, cancer treatment phase) on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale total score, depression subscale, anxiety subscale, and the stress subscale.

Results

Family caregivers’ unmet daily activity needs, in particular higher unmet personal care needs, during the intermediate phase (6–9 months), were significantly associated (ps<0.05) with overall distress (b = 4.93) and stress (b = 2.26). In the chronic treatment phase (>9 months), the significant association of unmet personal care needs was with overall distress (b = 5.91), anxiety (b = 1.97) and stress (b = 2.53). After completing treatment, unmet role management needs were only significantly associated with stress (b = -1.59). Caregivers’ higher depression was also associated with greater unmet role management needs, regardless of treatment phases.

Conclusions

Intermediate and chronic cancer treatment phases were identified as having greatest effect on caregivers’ unmet daily activity needs and emotions. Unmet personal care needs played the major effect on overall negative emotional states in the intermediate treatment phase and stress in the chronic treatment phase. Close attention to caregivers needs in intermediate and chronic treatment phases, would be highly beneficial in alleviating negative emotional disturbances.

Unmet needs and quality of life of caregivers of Korean breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

Purpose

As the survival rates of cancer patients have been increasing due to early diagnosis and technological advances in treatment, their caregiver burden has also emerged as an important issue. In view of this situation, this study aims to investigate the unmet needs and quality of life of caregivers of Korean breast cancer survivors.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional interview survey was performed among 160 caregivers of Korean breast cancer survivors. Caregivers who gave written informed consent to participate completed the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool for Cancer Caregivers and EuroQol-5 Dimensions.

Results

The mean age of the caregivers was 46.4 years, 44.4% (71 of 160) were spouses of patients, and 52.5% (84 of 160) were personally taking care of cancer survivors. Unmet needs were highest in the ‘healthcare staff’ domain and the item with the highest level of unmet needs was ‘needed information about the current status of the patient's illness and its future courses.’ Poorer quality of life was closely related to higher levels of unmet needs. In multiple regression analysis, older age, employment, the presence of religion, and higher levels of stress and despair in daily life were associated with higher levels of unmet needs.

Conclusion

The most prevalent unmet need in Korean breast cancer caregivers was found in the ‘healthcare staff’ domain, and their quality of life was closely related to unmet needs. Therefore, healthcare staff is required to make efforts to accurately identify breast cancer caregivers vulnerable in terms of unmet needs and address their unmet needs.

The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Family Inventory of Needs

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this methodological study was to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Family Inventory of Needs.

METHODS

The universe of the study consisted of 300 family members of inpatients hospitalized in the palliative care units of four hospitals in northern Turkey between April 12, 2019 and December 30, 2019. The translation process was performed in multiple stages using the forward-backward translation model. The reliability of the Family Inventory of Needs was evaluated using the Cronbach α reliability coefficient and item-total score correlations. Exploratory factor analyses were applied to examine the factor structure of the scale and its construct validity. To test the time invariance of the scale, the relationships between the scores obtained from the first and second applications were examined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

RESULTS

The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of the Family Inventory of Needs was found to be 0.893. The items of the Family Inventory of Needs were found to explain 45.23% of the total variance in scores. The Turkish form of the scale consisted of the importance and fulfillment subdimensions, and had 19 items. The ICCs of the test-retest scores of the importance and fulfillment subdimensions of the Family Inventory of Needs were found to be, respectively, ICC = 1.000 and ICC = 0.730 with a positive, linear, and highly significant relationship between the scores. The item-total score correlation coefficients of the scale were found to vary between 0.920 and 0.908 in the importance subdimension, and between 0.930 and 0.922 in the fulfillment subdimension.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

The Turkish version of the Family Inventory of Needs was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be safely used with the family members of Turkish inpatients.

A qualitative exploration of the unmet information needs of Chinese advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers

Background

Studies in the West have demonstrated that appropriate informational support is a vital component of cancer care, with positive effects on both patients and their informal caregivers. Since little is known about the information needs of advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers in China, where ‘silence as virtue’ is much more valued and the communication style is less open, this study was therefore conducted to elaborate the information needs of advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers as well as to explore their perceptions and experiences regarding their unmet information needs in the Chinese context.

Methods

This sub-study of a previous cross-sectional survey utilized a qualitative descriptive study design. The approach involved semi-structured interviews that followed an interview guide to collect data. Eligible participants were the advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers who had participated in the previous cross-sectional survey and reported unmet information needs. Each interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Descriptive content analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results

Seventeen advanced cancer patients and 15 informal caregivers with unmet information needs participated in the semi-structured interviews, with ages ranging from 32 to 63 years old for patients and from 32 to 70 for informal caregivers. Four categories were extracted from the interviews with the patients and caregivers: (1) types of unmet information needs; (2) reasons for information needs not being met; (3) preferences for the provision of information; and (4) meaning and role of information. Each category had two to four sub-categories for both the patients and the caregivers, which were similar but not completely the same.

Conclusion

The findings indicated that the provision of appropriate information could promote informed decision-making and greater satisfaction with treatment options, reductions in psychological disturbances, and enhanced confidence and ability in self-management and capacity in caregiving. Moreover, information on Traditional Chinese Medicine and food therapy should be increased, particularly for patients at the follow-up stage, while the amount of information on prognosis should be flexible as it could increase patients’ and caregivers’ psychological burden. Healthcare professionals were the most preferred information provider, although their heavy workload resulted in time constraints. In this case, they should provide information to patients and caregivers together as a ‘whole unit.’ At the same time, the value of separate conversations should also be recognized as some caregivers preferred to conceal unpleasant information from the patient.

Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese version of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool for family caregivers of cancer patients receiving home-based hospice care

Background

Family caregivers need to be supported in caring for patients at the end of life, but practical tools to assess their support needs have been missing in China. So this study aimed to culturally adapt and validate the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT).

Methods

Cross-cultural adaptation of the original CSNAT for a Chinese setting was performed according to Brislin’s translation guidelines. A pilot study was conducted with 15 Chinese family caregivers of cancer patients receiving hospice home care and 5 medical staff. A cross-sectional survey of 205 family caregivers was conducted from December 2018 to May 2019 at a home-based hospice care institute in Shenzhen, China. The validation procedure comprised the establishment of (1) content validity by a group of six experts; (2) face validity by 15 family caregivers; (3) criterion validity by calculating Spearman’s correlations between the CSNAT and caregiving burden, caregiving preparedness and quality of life scales; (4) internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha.

Results

The CSNAT demonstrated good face validity and good content validity. CSNAT scores showed clear positive correlations with caregiving burden and negative correlations with preparedness for caregiving and quality of life. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.899), although such reliability testing is not recommended for this tool.

Conclusions

The Chinese version of the CSNAT is a valid tool that is appropriate for identifying needs of family caregivers of cancer patients in home-based hospice care.

Comparison of the anxiety, depression and their relationship to quality of life among adult acute leukemia patients and their family caregivers: a cross-sectional study in China

PURPOSE

To compare the anxiety, depression and explore their relationship to quality of life (QoL) among adult acute leukemia (AL) patients and family caregivers (FCs) in China.

METHODS

A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2017 to January 2018. The sample comprised 207 dyads of adult AL patients and FCs. The participants were required to complete socio-demographic information and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Leukemia (FACT-Leu, only for patients) and MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36, only for FCs) were used to measure QoL.

RESULTS

The mean scores of anxiety and depression for AL patients were 7.89 ± 3.85 and 7.18 ± 4.23, respectively. For FCs, the mean scores of anxiety and depression were 9.96 ± 3.73 and 8.64 ± 3.74. In this study, adult AL Patients' sex, patients' depression score, whether patients achieving a CR or not, education, FCs' depression score, patients' social/family well-being and emotional well-being were significantly associated with patients' anxiety or depression (p < 0.05). For FCs, depression was significantly related to the physical component summary (β = 0.127, p = 0.008). There were significant differences in anxiety (t = - 5.92, p < 0.001) and depression (t = - 4.19, p < 0.001) between patients and FCs.

CONCLUSIONS

AL patients' FCs showed higher score of anxiety and depression than that of patients. The psychological health may have a potential relationship between AL patients and their FCs. Healthcare professionals can conduct family-center interventions to improve mental health and QoL of AL patients and FCs.

An online survey of informal caregivers' unmet needs and associated factors

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of unmet needs of carers among a convenience sample of carers, and the participant factors associated with unmet needs, to inform the development of interventions that will support a range of caregivers. The aims of this study were to: (1) assess the most frequently reported moderate-high unmet needs of caregivers; and (2) examine the age, gender, condition of the care recipient, and country variables associated with types of unmet needs reported by informal caregivers.

RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN

An online cross-sectional survey among informal caregivers in English-speaking countries was conducted. Self-reported unmet needs were assessed using an unmet needs measure with the following five unmet needs domains: (1) Health information and support for care recipient; (2) Health service management; (3) Communication and relationship; (4) Self-care; and (5) Support services accessibility. Informal caregivers were asked "In the last month, what was your level of need for help with…", and the ten highest ranked moderate-high unmet needs presented as ranked proportions. Logistic regression modelling examined the factors associated with types of unmet needs.

RESULTS

Overall, 457 caregivers were included in the final analysis. Seven of the ten highest ranked unmet needs experienced by caregivers in the last month were in the Self-care domain, including "Reducing stress in your life" (74.1%). Significant associations were found between younger caregiver age (18-45 years) and reporting moderate-high unmet needs in Health Information and support for care recipient, Health service management, and Support services accessibility (all p's = <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS

Caregivers are not experiencing significant differences in unmet needs between countries and caree/care recipient conditions, suggesting that general interventions could be developed to support a range of caregivers across countries. Increased awareness of informal caregivers' unmet needs, particularly for younger caregivers, among health care providers may improve support provision to caregivers.

Impact of Coping Skills Training on the Quality of Life Among the Daughters of Mothers with Breast Cancer

Background

Cancer affects the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their families. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of coping skills training on the QoL among daughters of mothers with breast cancer.

Methods

In this quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design, data were collected from 70 participants (35 in each of the control and education groups) from January 2016 to July 2017 in Imam Khomeini and Rasole-e-Akram Hospitals in Tehran. The education group participated in a workshop and group discussion (groups of 5 to 8 participants) with the presence of a pediatric psychiatrist and two pediatric nurses, and then a follow up program was performed. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 was used in this study in two stages of pre-test (before education) and post-test (four weeks later). Data were analyzed through SPSS, version 21 using independent t-test and paired t-test for comparison of the mean scores of the two groups, with the significance level of 0.05.

Results

After the education, there were significantly improved scores of the QoL in the dimensions of physical functioning (P<0.001), emotional functioning (P<0.001), and school functioning (P<0.001) in the study group compared to the control group. The social functioning did not show a significant change (P<0.083).

Conclusion

The findings of the study confirm that coping skills training can lead to the improvement of QoL in adolescent daughters of mothers with breast cancer. Healthcare professionals must provide the mothers and daughters with information about breast cancer and instruments to handle their situation to promote the daughters' QoL.

Quality of life in caregivers of patients with multiple myeloma

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the relationship between sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables with quality of life (QoL) and the moderating role of caregivers' age and caregiving duration in caregivers of patients with Multiple Myeloma.Method: The sample included 118 caregivers who completed questionnaires that assessed psychological morbidity, satisfaction with social support, coping, burden, unmet needs, and QoL.Results: High psychological morbidity, burden and information, financial and emotional unmet needs were associated with lower QoL, while higher satisfaction with social support and more effective use of coping strategies were associated with better QoL. Women caregivers reported more satisfaction with social support and those who did not choose to care reported greater financial unmet needs and more use of coping strategies. The relationship between caregivers' psychological morbidity/social support and QoL was mediated by emotional needs and double mediated by coping and burden. The caregivers' age moderated the relationship between psychological morbidity/social support and emotional needs.Conclusion: Interventions to support the caregiver's emotional needs to promote their QoL are needed. These should be particularly tailored for older caregivers reporting greater psychological morbidity and younger caregivers less satisfied with their social support, as they have a negative indirect impact on their QoL.

Caregivers of cancer patients: what are their information-seeking behaviours and resource preferences?

Cancer impacts not only the patient but also the family members who share the distressing trajectory of the patient. The literature indicates that caregivers have many unmet information needs while providing care and support to the cancer patients, and caregivers have to resort to seeking information to supplement their information needs. This study aims to establish the prevalence of health-information-seeking behaviours among caregivers of cancer patients as a means of ascertaining if their information needs have been met and their information source and resource preference. Data were obtained via a self-reported questionnaire from caregivers of cancer patients at the National Cancer Centre Singapore between 10 September and 7 December 2018. A total of 986 caregivers responded of which 180 (18%) caregivers did not undertake information search and the common reasons were ‘trust healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) more than other sources (64%), and ‘HCPs provide enough information’ (59%). Among the 795 caregivers who have searched for cancer information, about half of these caregivers (54%) have searched information on the Internet and another 15% have obtained their information from HCPs in their most recent search. A total of 371 (47%) caregivers have used their preferred source of information to conduct their most recent information search. The top three most commonly sought information was treatment (35.6%), disease (35.6%) and side effects (26.5%). Almost half (46%) of these caregivers was concerned about the quality of information they have found on the Internet. Our study supports that information-seeking is prevalent amongst caregivers of cancer patients and reveals the prevalence of Internet use and the concerns associated with its use. Patterns of information-seeking revealed a discrepancy between preferred and actual source. The results also suggest that HCPs play a significant role in the information-seeking behaviours of caregivers of cancer patients.

Caregiver Burden Domains and Their Relationship with Anxiety and Depression in the First Six Months of Cancer Diagnosis

Cancer caregiving is associated with burden and a poor psychological state. However, there is no previous information about the predictive utility of specific burden domains on anxiety and depression in the first six months after a partner's cancer diagnosis. In a longitudinal study, 67 caregivers completed the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at T1 (45-60 days after diagnosis) and T2 (180-200 days after diagnosis). Most of the caregivers were female (65.7%, mean age = 51.63, SD = 13.25), while patients were mostly male (56.7%). The TRIPOD checklist was applied. ZBI scores were moderate and HADS anxiety reached significant values. There were no differences in ZBI and HADS between T1 and T2. The relationship between burden, anxiety, and depression were more consistent at T2, while emotional burden at T1 were related and predicted anxiety and depression at T2. Some burden domains were related and predicted anxiety in caregivers in the first six months after partner cancer diagnosis. This information could be useful to prevent the onset of these symptoms in the first six months after diagnosis.

Profiles of family caregivers of patients at the end of life at home: a Q-methodological study into family caregiver' support needs

BACKGROUND

Family caregivers of patients at the end of life often experience care-related burden. To prevent caregiver burden and to enhance the capacity to provide care it is important to have insight in their support needs. The purpose of this study was to identify profiles of family caregivers who provide care to patients at the end of life at home.

METHODS

A Q-methodological study was conducted in which family caregivers ranked 40 statements on support needs and experiences with caregiving. Thereafter they explained their ranking in an interview. By-person factor analysis was used to analyse the rankings and qualitative data was used to support the choice of profiles. A set of 41 family caregivers with a variety on background characteristics who currently or recently provided care for someone at the end of life at home were included.

RESULTS

Four distinct profiles were identified; profile (1) those who want appreciation and an assigned contact person; profile (2) was bipolar. The positive pole (2+) comprised those who have supportive relationships and the negative pole (2-) those who wish for supportive relationships; profile (3) those who want information and practical support, and profile (4) those who need time off. The profiles reflect different support needs and experiences with caregiving.

CONCLUSIONS

Family caregivers of patients at the end of life have varying support needs and one size does not fit all. The profiles are relevant for healthcare professionals and volunteers in palliative care as they provide an overview of the main support needs among family caregivers of patients near the end of life. This knowledge could help healthcare professionals giving support.

Impact of individual background on the unmet needs of cancer survivors and caregivers - a mixed-methods analysis

BACKGROUND

Cancer survivors and their caregivers may have various unmet needs that are medically difficult to solve. Previous studies have suggested the relations between individuals' backgrounds and their unmet needs. We conducted a large-scale analysis to clarify the influence of individuals' backgrounds, primarily cancer type, on specific types of unmet needs.

METHODS

Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed records of first-time callers to a cancer-focused telephone consultation service that was provided by the Kanagawa Cancer Clinical Research Information Organization from October 2006 to May 2014. The qualitative approach concerned extracting unmet needs mentioned in each consultation and classifying them into themes of specific needs, while the quantitative approach comprised multi-variated analysis of the relationships between the frequency by which the needs in each theme arose and the associated callers' backgrounds.

RESULTS

A total of 1938 consultation cases were analyzed. In the qualitative analysis, the needs were classified into 16 themes. The mean number of unmet needs for each caller was 1.58 (standard deviation = 0.86). In the multi-variated analysis, caregivers for colorectal cancer survivors had a lower frequency of "emotional/mental health" needs (OR: 0.31, 95%CI: 0.11-0.88, p = 0.028) than did caregivers for breast-cancer survivors. Nevertheless, this was the only significant difference in needs frequency among callers (including survivors and their caregivers) with specific cancer types. Meanwhile, there significant difference in the frequency of occurrence of each unmet need theme was found among items concerning other background elements. Among survivors, sex was related to the frequency of needs among "physical" and "resources" themes, and "emotions/mental health"; their age group with "employment"; treatment course with "physical" and "resources" themes and "cure"; residence with "physical" themes; presence of symptom with "physical," "education/information," "resources," "emotions/mental health," and "cure" themes.

CONCLUSIONS

This large-scale study suggests that cancer type is not a significant factor for specific unmet needs and that individuals' backgrounds and presence of symptoms play a more important role. Through this study, it was found that instruments to predict people's needs and a system to provide individualized cancer care across cancer types should be developed in the future.

The Effect of Intra-operative Text Messages in Reducing Anxiety Levels Among Family Members of Patients Undergoing Major Musculoskeletal Tumour Surgery

BACKGROUND

The family of patients undergo profound anxiety when their family member is undergoing major oncological surgery. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of periodic intraoperative text messages regarding the status of ongoing surgery in reducing anxiety levels among the patients' family members.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Family members of 60 patients (one for each patient) who were undergoing major oncological surgery lasting more than 1 h were recruited and randomized into two groups (30 patients each). Group 1 (no SMS group) did not receive any text message while Group 2 (SMS group) received periodic intraoperative text messages. Respondents aged less than 16 years, those with associated psychiatric illnesses, and those who did not consent to the study were excluded. Anxiety among family members was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A) and Anxiety component of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) at five different periods; (P1) 1 day prior to surgery (P2) at separation from family at the operation theatre (P3) 1 h after commencement of surgery (P4) immediately after completion of surgery, and (P5) 1 day after surgery.

RESULTS

The mean VAS-A and HADS-S scores between both the groups did not show a statistically significant difference for P1, P2 and P5 assessment periods (preoperative period, separation in operation theatre, post-operative period). However, mean VAS-A and HADS-A scores were significantly higher for Group 1 compared to Group 2 during P3 and P4 periods, 1 h after commencement of surgery and completion of surgery, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Periodic text messages updating the status of ongoing surgery helps to reduce anxiety for family members of patients undergoing oncological surgery during the intraoperative period.