Fatigue and Vigilance-Related Factors in Family Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Cross-sectional Study

Factors affecting the caregiver burden of family members to palliative care patients: A descriptive and cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Many factors affect caregiver burden. Limited studies exist on the effect of social support and fatigue on family caregivers. This study aims to explore the impact of fatigue and social support on the burden experienced by family caregivers of palliative care patients.

METHODS

The study was conducted with 80 family caregivers. Data were collected using the Piper Fatigue Scale, the Burden Interview, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the data.

RESULTS

The regression analysis revealed that higher scores on the MSPSS were significantly associated with lower Burden Interview scores (p < 0.05). Conversely, higher PFS scores were significantly correlated with increased Burden Interview scores (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

Both fatigue and social support play a critical role in shaping the caregiving burden experienced by family caregivers. Interventions aimed at reducing caregiver fatigue and enhancing social support may help alleviate this burden.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Brief-COPE Inventory and Exploration of Factors Associated with Perceived Stress among Peruvian Nurses

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Brief-COPE Inventory and to determine its concurrent validity by examining its association with perceived stress among Peruvian nurses.

METHODS

A psychometric study was conducted with 434 Peruvian nurses to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brief-COPE Inventory through confirmatory factor analysis. Three stepwise variable selection regression models were implemented.

RESULTS

The three-factor model of the Brief-COPE Inventory demonstrated adequate fit indices (root mean square error of approximation = 0.052, standardized root mean square residual = 0.068, and both the comparative fit index and the Tucker-Lewis index = 0.95). Additionally, the factors were significantly correlated (p < 0.001), and the reliability was adequate (ω = 0.90). Nurses reported a medium level of perceived stress, with associated factors including having received stress management training, fear of COVID-19, and problem-focused coping strategies (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that the Brief-COPE Inventory is a valid tool for measuring coping strategies among Peruvian nurses due to its good model fit, excellent reliability, and concurrent validity with perceived stress. However, further research is needed to assess its validity in the specific areas of performance perceived by nursing professionals.

Factors influencing parental fatigue in children with retinoblastoma based on the unpleasant symptoms theory

Parents of children with retinoblastoma, the most common primary ocular malignant tumour in childhood, bear a heavy caregiving burden and are very susceptible to fatigue. However, little is known about their current status of fatigue and factors influencing fatigue; therefore,this study, based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms, and included 317 parents of children with retinoblastoma in China, whose general demographic data were collected, and on whom the fatigue severity scale (FSS), the generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) and 2-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-2) were administered, from 9 March to 1 June 2020. The parents' FSS score and fatigue incidence were 4.41 ± 1.14 and 67.19%, respectively. The fatigue level was positively correlated with anxiety, depression, education, times of hospitalisations, and treatment types (r = 0.125-0.468, P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with health status, sleep quality, economic status, and family economic situation (r =  - 0.120 to - 0.322, P < 0.05). Parent's anxiety level, being an only child and female sex of child influenced parents' fatigue. Healthcare personnel need to focus their attention on this high-risk fatigue group and implement appropriate interventions to reduce their fatigue level, promote their physical and mental health, and facilitate better care for children.

Effect of a Web-Based Integrative Support Intervention to Improve Family Caregiver Positive Caregiving Experience and Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Cancer caregivers experience significant stress due to their multifaceted role. Current support methods are limited by unidimensional assessments.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate a Web-based support system aimed at reducing caregiver stress and anxiety, and improving resilience, vigilance, and quality of life, using both subjective and objective measures.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial with a single-center, 2-arm parallel design and longitudinal assessment was conducted in Taiwan. Caregivers of patients recently diagnosed with cancer were randomly allocated to either a standard care group or an intervention group that received enhanced nurse-led support. Metrics including psychological resilience, caregiver burden, anxiety, quality of life, stress levels, and vigilance were systematically evaluated on a monthly basis over a period of 5 months, starting from the initial baseline measurement.

RESULTS

Following the intervention, participants in the intervention group exhibited statistically significant reductions in caregiver burden and anxiety, alongside a notable improvement in resilience. Objective evaluations revealed a significant reduction in stress levels within this group. However, there were no discernible differences in vigilance and quality of life metrics between the intervention and control groups.

CONCLUSION

The Web-based program effectively reduced caregiver stress and burden, as indicated by multiple metrics.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This accessible and efficient Web-based support is beneficial for cancer caregivers facing diverse challenges.

Development and validation of the CARE-FCR: A caregiver-specific measure of fear of cancer recurrence and progression

OBJECTIVES

Fear of cancer recurring or progressing (FCR) is a concern reported by people living with cancer and caregivers alike. Whilst advances in survivor FCR have been made, less is known about caregiver FCR. As a result, measurement of caregiver FCR has relied on instruments developed for survivor populations. Findings from qualitative research indicate caregiver experiences of FCR differ. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a caregiver specific measure of FCR (CARE-FCR).

METHODS

Four-hundred and thirty-eight caregivers (56% female, Mage = 50.53 years, SD = 17.38) completed the online survey including demographic questions, information about care provided, the person they care for, as well as the CARE-FCR. Convergent validity was assessed using pre-existing measures of fear of recurrence and progression, depression, anxiety, death anxiety and meta-cognitions. The extraversion dimension of the Big Five Personality Trait questionnaire was used to assess divergent validity. The survey was completed 2 weeks later to assess test-retest reliability. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to determine factor structure, followed by confirmatory factor analysis.

RESULTS

EFA indicated a 3-factor structure: progression, recurrence, and communication. Evidence for convergent, divergent, and test-retest reliability was adequate. Internal consistency for the CARE-FCR was strong, overall Cronbach's α = 0.96 (progression = 0.94, recurrence = 0.92 and communication = 0.78).

CONCLUSIONS

We present a theoretically informed and psychometrically robust measure of caregiver FCR. The CARE-FCR facilitates quantification of caregiver FCR, capturing unique aspects specific to this population.

Relationship between fatigue and quality of life and related factors in family caregivers of patients on hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

The incessant and stressful nature of providing care to patients with chronic diseases can cause fatigue in caregivers. Caregivers' fatigue and reduced quality of life can reduce the patient's quality of care. Since it is important to pay attention to the mental health of family caregivers, this study investigated the relationship between fatigue and quality of life and their related factors in family caregivers of patients on hemodialysis.

METHODS

This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2020-2021. One hundred seventy family caregivers were recruited by convenience sampling from two hemodialysis referral centers in the east of Mazandaran province, Iran. The data collection tools were the Family Caregiver Quality of Life questionnaire and Krupp's fatigue severity scale.

RESULTS

The majority (88%) of caregivers had moderate to severe fatigue. Caregivers' fatigue was a major factor influencing their quality of life. There was a significant fatigue difference between some categories of kinship and the caregiver's income level (P < 0.05). Caregivers with lower income and education levels, those who were the patient's spouse, and those who could not leave the patient alone had significantly worse quality of life than other caregivers (P < 0.05). Also, caregivers living with the patient in the same house had a worse quality of life than those living separately (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Considering the high prevalence of fatigue among family caregivers of patients on hemodialysis and its adverse effect on their quality of life, it is recommended to perform routine screenings and implement fatigue alleviation interventions for these caregivers.

Caregiving burdens of family members of patients living with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Caregiving burden is common among family caregivers (FCs). In Taiwan, no reports have compared caregiving burden according to disease stage, or explored the comprehensive factors of caregiving burden in the FCs of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

AIM

The aim of the study was to investigate caregiving burden at different diagnosis stages and its potential predictors in the FCs of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 192 FCs. Caregiving burden was measured using the Caregiver Reaction Assessment tool. The predictive factors of caregiving burden in the FCs of patients with HCC were identified using a linear regression model.

RESULTS

The global caregiving burden had no significant differences between the four disease stages. The lack of family support and impact on schedule were significantly higher at the terminal stage than at the earlier stage. The risk factors of caregiving burden were high depression, high financial demand, heavy caregiving tasks, advanced age and frequent patient contact, which obtained a variance of 47.8% in the regression model.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare providers need to proactively identify and assess FCs with risk factors of caregiving burden and provide appropriate interventions specific to individual needs at different disease stages.

Caring experiences of family caregivers of patients with pancreatic cancer: an integrative literature review

PURPOSE

This review summarizes and synthesizes the available empirical literature on the experiences concerned with the problems and challenges faced by caregivers of patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

An integrative review method was used, and a literature search was conducted using five databases. We searched the terms "pancreatic cancer," "caregiver," and "experience," and used the Boolean operators OR and AND to combine them. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools were used to assess the quality of the included studies.

RESULTS

Four qualitative studies, one mixed method, and three quantitative studies met the selection criteria and were included in the review. Informal family caregivers of patients with pancreatic cancer experienced multifaceted roles, lack of information, difficulties in maintaining emotional well-being, and positive coping. The factors associated with their caring experience included the caregivers' demographics, patients' psychological status, and clinical characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Caregivers of patients with pancreatic cancer have various experiences while providing care. Health care providers should offer opportunities for caregivers to recognize their feelings, provide sufficient information and psychological support, and foster coping strategies to maintain the physical and psychosocial well-being of caregivers.