Caregiver burden among poor caregivers of patients with cancer in an urban African setting

Objectives: The nature and magnitude of the problems facing caregivers remain largely unknown in developing countries of the world. This study addresses these issues in a group of caregivers of patients with cancer in Zaria, Nigeria. Method: One hundred and three patients attending an oncology outpatient clinic at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital were enrolled in the study with their caregivers. The caregivers were interviewed using the Socio‐demographic data sheet, General Health Questionnaire‐30 (GHQ‐30) and Zarith Burden Interview (ZBI). A score of 4 or more in GHQ and scores above the median score of the sample in ZBI were considered a clinically significant level of psychological morbidity and a high level of burden, respectively. Data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 13 for Windows. All statistical tests of significance were carried out at 5% level of probability. Results: The patients were 60 women whose mean age was 57. Of the 103 caregivers, 60 (58%) were men and 43 (42%) were women. Their mean age was 37. Their mean ZBI and GHQ‐30 scores were 29.16±12.8 (median = 25) and 3.67±3.01, respectively. A high level of burden was found in 49.5% (95% CI 39.9–59.1%) and psychological morbidity was found in 46.6% (95% CI 37.0–56.2%) of the caregivers. High levels of burden and psychological morbidity were significantly associated with absence of financial support. Conclusion: The study demonstrated a high level of caregiver burden, psychological morbidity and financial strain in family caregivers coming to the clinic with a relative who has cancer in an urban Nigerian setting. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Psychological morbidity and autonomic reactivity to emotional stimulus in parental cancer: a study with adult children caregivers

Literature suggests that parental cancer can provoke aversive emotional arousal in adult children, who may perceive caregiving as a traumatic experience. Limited research has been conducted on emotional and physiological impact of family caregiving for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The aim of the present study was to examine psychological and physiological responses in parental cancer's caregivers. Two matched groups of adult children, with 78 participants each (parental cancer vs. control), completed psychological measures of distress, post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and burden. Additionally, each participant visualised standardised pictures with different emotional valences, while cardiovascular (heart rate) and electrodermal responses (skin conductance) were recorded. Between‐group analysis showed significant differences on all psychological variables, and on skin conductance for all types of pictures. However, for the heart rate responses, differences were found only for pictures with unpleasant emotional arousal. In the parental cancer group, the heart rate peak response stood out as a predictor of PTSD symptoms, after controlling for distress and burden. This study highlights the important role of psychophysiological measures of family caregiving in oncology. Physiological responses may explain a higher prevalence of PTSD symptoms. Therefore, biofeedback combined with targeted psychosocial interventions for relaxation could be of great clinical value for this population.     

The contribution of attachment security and social support to depressive symptoms in patients with metastatic cancer

The present study examines the association between disease-related factors, perceived social support, attachment security (i.e. attachment anxiety and avoidance), and the occurrence of depressive symptoms in a sample of patients with metastatic gastrointestinal or lung cancer. Results from a sample of 326 cancer outpatients with advanced disease indicate that disease-related factors are significantly associated with the occurrence of depressive symptoms, and the latter are inversely related to the degree of attachment anxiety and avoidance, and perceived social support. Attachment security (on the dimension of anxious attachment) significantly buffered the effect of disease-related factors on depressive symptoms, and perceived social support mediated the relationship between attachment security and depressive symptoms. The buffering effect of attachment security on depressive symptoms and its partial mediation through social support suggest that the interaction of individual, social, and disease-related factors contribute to the emergence of depressive symptoms in patients with metastatic cancer.     

Determinants of the burden and positivity of family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients in Korea

Objective: Caregivers may experience positive or negative feelings about their role. The study investigated the determinants of the burden and positivity of family caregivers of Korean terminal cancer patients. Methods: A multicenter cross‐sectional survey was conducted with 139 family caregivers. Determinants of caregiver's burden and positivity were assessed by the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Scale and by three questions based on a previous study, respectively. Two separate hierarchical multiple regression models were used. Results: Each domain of the caregiver's burden and positivity was explained by different factors, with the total explained variance ranging between 14.4–33.6% and 2.6–18.3%, respectively. Caregivers who were unmarried, less educated, and/or had low incomes were more likely to be negatively affected, while those who shared caregiving responsibilities were less prone to negative consequences. Caregivers who were male, religious practitioners, and who perceived a higher burden of schedule disruptions were more likely to have a positive perception of their role, while those who perceived a lack of family support were less likely. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of sharing the caregiving burden with the other family members. Organizing a family meeting can provide an opportunity for other family members to acknowledge the feelings and reactions of the primary caregivers, and can prompt the sharing of caregiving responsibilities. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of attachment dimensions and perceived social support in predicting adjustment to cancer

Objective: Several studies carried out over the last years show that patients' adjustment is very important to the past experiences of people with cancer. In our study of 96 subjects with cancer, we examined whether patient's working model of attachment anxiety/avoidance and perceptions of social support predicts adjustment to cancer. Methods: All participants filled in a demographic questionnaire, the Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC). Results: Anxious attachment predicted psychological adjustment: patients with high levels of anxious attachment showed high levels of helplessness/hopelessness and anxious preoccupation (p<0.01, and p<0.05, respectively). With regard to the function of perceived social support, the patient's perception of social support from friends was predictive of both fighting spirit and stoic acceptance (p=0.01, and p<0.001, respectively). Conversely, the patient's perception of support from family members was not predictive of adjustment to cancer. Patients in the advanced stages of the illness showed higher levels of helplessness/hopelessness (p<0.05). Conclusions: Anxious attachment and perceived social support predicted different domains of psychological adjustment to cancer. Perceived support from friends may predict the patient's tendency to consider cancer as a challenge and to take an active role in therapy and recovery, whereas social support from family was not predictive of various states of adjustment to cancer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

食管癌放化疗患者自我效能感与领悟社会支持相关性研究

目的 探讨食管癌患者放化疗期间自我效能感与领悟社会支持状况及其相关性。方法 选择2017 年 1~5 月首都 医科大学附属北京康复医院口腔科收治的 216 名食管癌住院患者,应用一般自我效能感量表、领悟社会支持量表和一般资 料调查表进行调查。结果 食管癌患者在放化疗期间自我效能感总体得分为（25.94±5.28）分;其中年龄＞35 岁、月收入 在 5000 元以上、有医保、诊断年限在6~10 年、有治疗史的患者自我效能感水平较高（P ＜ 0.05）。领悟社会支持总分为 （61.67±10.86）分,家庭内支持得分为（23.46±3.91）分,家庭外支持得分为（38.09±8.90）分;其中年龄越大、民族为少 数民族、文化程度越高、居住在城市、职业为医务人员、月收入在 5000 元以上、有医保、确诊年限在 6 年以下的患者领悟 社会支持水平较高（P＜0.05）。患者自我效能感得分与领悟社会支持总分及各维度均呈显著正相关（P＜0.01）。另外, 本研究还发现,完全缓解、部分缓解者的自我效能感、领悟社会支持得分、家庭内支持及家庭外支持得分均显著高于部分稳定、 疾病进展者,差异之间存在统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 食管癌患者在放化疗期间自我效能感和领悟社会支持水平较高, 患者感知到的社会支持越高,自我效能感越高。同时,自我效能感和领悟社会支持水平对判断该人群的预后具有重要的临 床意义。     

Psychological distress in women at risk for hereditary breast cancer: the role of family communication and perceived social support

Background: Hereditary breast cancer has a profound impact on individual family members and on their mutual communication and interactions. The way at‐risk women cope with the threat of hereditary breast cancer may depend on the quality of family communication about hereditary breast cancer and on the perceived social support from family and friends. Objective: To examine the associations of family communication and social support with long‐term psychological distress in a group of women at risk for hereditary breast cancer, who opted either for regular breast surveillance or prophylactic surgery. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 222 women at risk for hereditary breast cancer, who previously participated in a study on the psychological consequences of either regular breast cancer surveillance or prophylactic surgery. General and breast cancer specific distress, hereditary cancer‐related family communication, perceived social support, and demographics were assessed. Results: Using structural equation modelling, we found that open communication about hereditary cancer within the family was associated with less general and breast cancer specific distress. In addition, perceived support from family and friends was indirectly associated with less general and breast cancer‐specific distress through open communication within the family. Discussion: These findings indicate that family communication and perceived social support from friends and family are of paramount importance in the long‐term adaptation to being at risk for hereditary breast cancer. Attention for these issues needs to be incorporated in the care of women at risk for hereditary breast cancer. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.