Relationship Quality and Burden among Caregivers for Late-stage Cancer Patients

Objective This study explores how caregiver relationship quality with family, patient, and patient’s health care provider (HCP) is associated with subjective caregiver burden during the early treatment phase for late-stage cancer. Method Burden and relationship quality were assessed in telephone interviews with family caregivers (FCGs) of advanced cancer patients. The five subscales of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment measured burden, while relationships were measured with the Family Relationship Index, the Family Inventory of Needs subscale of met needs, and a scale assessing family discord in cancer communication. Results Multiple linear regression analyses in SPSS (v16) of 420 FCGs showed that higher quality relationship with family was associated with lower burden in FCG abandonment, health, scheduling (

Relationship Quality and Burden among Caregivers for Late-stage Cancer Patients

Objective This study explores how caregiver relationship quality with family, patient, and patient’s health care provider (HCP) is associated with subjective caregiver burden during the early treatment phase for late-stage cancer. Method Burden and relationship quality were assessed in telephone interviews with family caregivers (FCGs) of advanced cancer patients. The five subscales of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment measured burden, while relationships were measured with the Family Relationship Index, the Family Inventory of Needs subscale of met needs, and a scale assessing family discord in cancer communication. Results Multiple linear regression analyses in SPSS (v16) of 420 FCGs showed that higher quality relationship with family was associated with lower burden in FCG abandonment, health, scheduling (

Relationships and Emotional Wellbeing among African American and White Advanced Cancer Caregivers

Objective: Advanced cancer family caregivers who have good relationships with other family members and with patient’s health care providers (PHCPs) have less emotional distress than caregivers with poor relationships. Given a history of different experiences in medical settings among Whites and African Americans, we examined moderation effects by race. Methods: Baseline data from an ongoing study were collected via telephone interviews with 397 family caregivers of advanced cancer patients at two cancer clinics. Depressed mood and anxiety were measured with the 14-item Profile of Mood States. Results: Caregivers reporting good relationships with family (p \u3c .001) and PHCPs (p \u3c .001) had lower anxiety and less depressed mood (family, p \u3c .01; PHCP, p \u3c .001). Caregiver race moderated relationship quality: Whites with good PHCP relationships felt less depressed mood (p \u3c .01) and anxiety (p \u3c .01). African Americans with good family relationships showed less depressed mood (p \u3c .05), but no association with anxiety. Conclusion: Good relationships are important for caregivers, but PHCPs may have more influence on the wellbeing of White than of African American caregivers. Practice implications: Developing relationships with caregivers of advanced cancer patients may improve wellbeing for caregivers. In addition, creating strategies to support family relationships may be a useful intervention, especially for African American advanced cancer caregivers

A coping and communication support intervention tailored to older patients diagnosed with late-stage cancer

Julia Hannum Rose1,2,3, Rosanne Radziewicz4, Karen F Bowman5, Elizabeth E O’Toole11Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; 2Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC-GRECC, Cleveland, OH, USA; 3Center for Health Care Research and Policy, Case at MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; 4Department of Nursing, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; 5Department of Sociology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USAAbstract: As our society ages, increasing numbers of older Americans will be diagnosed and eventually will die of cancer. To date, psycho-oncology interventions for advanced cancer patients have been more successful in reaching younger adult age groups and generally have not been designed to respond to the unique needs and preferences of older patients. Theories and research on successful aging (Baltes and Baltes 1990; Baltes 1997), health information processing style (Miller 1995; Miller et al 2001) and non-directive client-centered therapy (Rogers 1951, 1967), have guided the development of a coping and communication support (CCS) intervention. Key components of this age-sensitive and tailored intervention are described, including problem domains addressed, intervention strategies used and the role of the CCS practitioner. Age group comparisons in frequency of contact, problems raised and intervention strategies used during the first six weeks of follow up indicate that older patients were similar to middle-aged patients in their level of engagement, problems faced and intervention strategies used. Middle-aged patients were more likely to have problems communicating with family members at intervention start up and practical problems as well in follow up contacts. This is the first intervention study specifically designed to be age sensitive and to examine age differences in engagement from the early treatment phase for late-stage cancer through end of life. This tailored intervention is expected to positively affect patients’ quality of care and quality of life over time.Keywords: aging, psycho-oncology interventions, advanced cancer, supportive car