Effect of integrated caregiver support on caregiver burden for people taking care of people with cancer at the end of life: A cohort and quasi-experimental clinical trial |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Outcomes Research Branch, Healthcare Delivery Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD;2. ICF, Fairfax, VA;1. Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED), School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia;2. Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), The University of Sydney, Australia;3. QIMR Berghofer Institute of Medical Research, Gynaecological Cancers Group, Brisbane, Australia;4. Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Westmead Hospital and Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, The University of Sydney at Westmead Millennium Institute, Westmead, Australia;5. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia;6. Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG), NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia;7. Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia |
| |
| Abstract: | BackgroundPrevious studies have shown small-to-medium effects of support on reducing the caregiver burden for advanced cancer patients. A dearth of studies utilized longitudinal design to examine and evaluate the effect of support for the caregiving burden till the patient's death.ObjectivesTo test the ability of an integrative intervention program for caregivers of advanced cancer patients to lower caregiving burden as death approaches.DesignA two-group comparative design with repeated measures.SettingTwo cancer wards of a single university hospital.ParticipantsAdvanced cancer patients (N = 81) and their caregivers were allocated into two groups: an experimental group (N = 40) receiving coping strategies, assistance, recourses, and education intervention and a control group (N = 41) receiving standard care.MethodsCaregivers received training in the caregiver support intervention at least 3 times every 2 weeks to help them reduce their caregiving burden. Subjective (Caregiver Reaction Assessment) and objective (Heart Rate Variability) measures of caregiver burden were evaluated for caregivers of patients approaching death. Only data within 3 months before the patients’ death were analyzed.ResultsCaregiver self-efficacy significantly increased and the subjective caregiving burden significantly decreased in the experimental group as patients’ death approached. Heart Rate Variability also indicated a calming effect of the intervention, helping caregivers face patients’ death.ConclusionsThe caregiver support intervention can increase caregiver self-efficacy and reduce the subjective caregiving burden. Heart Rate Variability parameters have the potential to be useful for monitoring caregiver burden in facing patients’ death. |
| |
| Keywords: | Caregiver burden Caregiver support End of life People with cancer |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
