Caregivers of patients with cancer fatigue: a high level of symptom burden

Symptom burden and quality of life among patient and family caregiver dyads in advanced cancer

PURPOSE

Symptom management among patients diagnosed with advanced cancer is a high priority in clinical care that often involves the support of a family caregiver. However, limited studies have examined parallel patient and caregiver symptom burden and associations with their own and each other's quality of life (QOL). This study seeks to identify patient and caregiver symptom clusters and investigate associations between identified clusters and demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors (cognitive appraisals and QOL).

METHODS

This study was a secondary analysis of self-reported baseline survey data collected from a randomized clinical trial of 484 adult advanced cancer patients and their caregivers. Latent class analysis and factor analysis were used to identify symptom clusters. Bivariate statistics tested associations between symptom clusters and demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables.

RESULTS

The most prevalent symptom for patients was energy loss/fatigue and for caregivers, mental distress. Low, moderate, and high symptom burden subgroups were identified at the patient, caregiver, and dyad level. Age, gender, race, income, chronic conditions, cancer type, and treatment type were associated with symptom burden subgroups. Higher symptom burden was associated with more negative appraisals of the cancer and caregiving experience, and poorer QOL (physical, social, emotional, functional, and overall QOL). Dyads whose caregivers had more chronic conditions were more likely to be in the high symptom burden subgroup.

CONCLUSION

Patient and caregiver symptom burden influence their own and each other's QOL. These findings reinforce the need to approach symptom management from a dyadic perspective.

The assessment of care burden and influencing factors on family caregivers for cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The family caregivers as primary caregivers play a crucial role regarding the care of cancer patients. As defined in the literature, the care burden encompasses the negative objective and subjective outcomes including psychological and physical health problems, economic and social issues, deterioration of family relationships and feelings of loss of control that arise from caregiving responsibilities.

AIMS

This study aims to assess the care burden and to evaluate the associated factors among family caregivers of cancer patients receiving treatment at a state hospital in Türkiye.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted with the family caregivers of patients undergoing treatment in the radiation oncology department of a state hospital in Türkiye. The study population consisted of 350 individuals, with a participation rate of 80%. Participants were administered a questionnaire concerning determining daily living activities and identifying the caregiving burden through their socio-demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

The care burden among primary family caregivers while the delivery of health services was severe for 85.1% of them. The average ZBI score of caregivers was 55.92 ± 14.58. It was clarified that family caregivers' burden was influenced by several factors, including the duration of caregiving, difficulties experienced while caring for the patient, and the negative impact on their daily roles.

CONCLUSION

Our study's findings indicate the need for health professionals to support caregivers of cancer patients while over half of the caregivers were identified as having a severe level of caregiving burden. It is important to raise awareness among nurses and the oncology team with a holistic approach. In the delivery of health services, caregivers' needs should be identified first, support mechanisms should be activated and interventions should be made to meet these needs.

IMPACT

This study's findings highlight the need to identify and problems faced by family members during caregiving. This is important for sustainable and cost-effective holistic care.

REPORTING METHOD

The results of this study are reported based on the guidelines of The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies (cohort, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies) in Epidemiology (STROBE).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Our study's findings indicate the need for health professionals to support caregivers of cancer patients. It is important to raise awareness among nurses and the oncology team with a holistic approach. In the delivery of health services, caregivers' needs should be identified first, support mechanisms should be activated and interventions should be made to meet these needs.

Unresectable squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with spina bifida

Spina bifida is a congenital malformation of foetal neural structures which may present as a skin fold or sac containing cerebrospinal fluid and neural structures with a variety of neurological deficits. Surgical repairs of spina bifida may not ensure complete functions, neural improvement or recovery. We present this palliative report of an adult male in his early 40s with a medical history of meningocele repair in his infancy, with long-standing Marjolin ulcers, fractures, contractures, diverting ileostomy and urostomy and a fungating mass externally measuring 33×25 cm. The mass involved the buttocks, perineum and scrotum with a tumour overlying the meningocele and extending into the thigh through an internally draining tract. Factors such as immobility, pressure injuries and poor social support in the setting of chronic disability led to a conservative approach in the management of this unresectable carcinoma.

The definitions, assessment, and dimensions of cancer-related fatigue: A scoping review

PURPOSE

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is challenging to diagnose and manage due to a lack of consensus on its definition and assessment. The objective of this scoping review is to summarize how CRF has been defined and assessed in adult patients with cancer worldwide.

METHODS

Four databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycNet) were searched to identify eligible original research articles published in English over a 10-year span (2010-2020); CRF was required to be a primary outcome and described as a dimensional construct. Each review phase was piloted: title and abstract screening, full-text screening, and data extraction. Then, two independent reviewers participated in each review phase, and discrepancies were resolved by a third party.

RESULTS

2923 articles were screened, and 150 were included. Only 68% of articles provided a definition for CRF, of which 90% described CRF as a multidimensional construct, and 41% were identical to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network definition. Studies were primarily conducted in the United States (19%) and the majority employed longitudinal (67%), quantitative (93%), and observational (57%) study designs with sample sizes ≥ 100 people (57%). Participant age and race were often not reported (31% and 82%, respectively). The most common cancer diagnosis and treatment were breast cancer (79%) and chemotherapy (80%; n = 86), respectively. CRF measures were predominantly multidimensional (97%, n = 139), with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) (26%) as the most common CRF measure and "Physical" (76%) as the most common CRF dimension.

CONCLUSION

This review confirms the need for a universally agreed-upon definition and standardized assessment battery for CRF.

Influencing factors of home hospice care needs of family caregivers of the older adult with chronic diseases at the end of life in China: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

With increased life expectancy in the Chinese population coupled with chronic disease the care needs of people at the end of life are attracting much attention. Home hospice care can help the dying older adult achieve comfort and maintain their dignity at home. However, dying at home means great responsibility and challenge for family caregivers, and there are many unmet needs. The study aimed to investigate the home hospice care needs of family caregivers of older adult people with chronic diseases at the end of life in China, and to analyze the influencing factors of home hospice care needs of caregivers.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, from May to September 2023, 4 community health service centers were selected by stratified sampling from seven administrative districts in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, where home hospice care was piloted. Then 224 family caregivers were selected from the communities of seven community service centers by simple random sampling method. A general information questionnaire and the home hospice care needs questionnaire developed by our research group were used to investigate. Univariate analysis was used to compare the differences in the scores of different characteristics, and the factors with significant differences were selected for multivariate linear regression analysis to determine the final influencing factors.

Results

The total score of hospice care needs of family caregivers was 121.61 ± 15.24, among which the end-of-life knowledge need dimension score was 24.04 ± 2.71, the highest score index was 80.13%, while the symptom control need score was 15.58 ± 3.39, the lowest score index was 62.32%. In addition, Caregivers with caregiving experience, dying older adult with longer disease duration, and dying older adult with higher levels of education were the factors influencing the total need for home hospice care among family caregivers, with a variance explained of 22.7%.

Discussion

The needs of family caregivers of the terminally ill older adult are high, and healthcare professionals should implement services to meet their multidimensional needs and improve the quality of care according to the factors affecting their needs.

Effect of Family Music Therapy on Patients with Primary Liver Cancer Undergoing Palliative Care and their Caregivers: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

The effectiveness of family music therapy for patients with advanced palliative care hepatocellular carcinoma and their main caregivers was investigated.

METHODS

The clinical data of liver cancer patients and their main caregivers admitted to Wuwei City People's Hospital from August 2022 to April 2023 were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into observation group A and control group A according to whether they received family music therapy, and caregivers were divided into control group B and observation group B. The general demographic data, self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), cancer-related fatigue scale (CFS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), anticipatory grief scale (AGS), and caregiver burden inventory (CBI) scores of the patients and their primary caregivers were collected. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the baseline data of the two groups. Then, data were analysed using t-test and chi-squared (χ2) test.

RESULTS

After 1:1 PSM, 45 samples were included in each group. Before management, no significant differences in SDS, SAS, AGS, CFS, PSQI and CBI scores were found among the groups (P > 0.05). After management, the SDS, SAS and CFS scores of observation group A were lower than those of control group A (P < 0.05). The AGS, PSQI and CBI scores of observation group B were lower than those of control group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of family music supplement therapy is ideal, which can relieve the negative emotions of patients, reduce the degree of cancer-related fatigue, enhance the sleep quality of the main caregivers and reduce anticipatory grief and the burden of care.

Family caregiver quality of life and symptom burden in patients with hematological cancer: A Danish nationwide cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the quality of life (QoL) and the impact of caregiving in family caregivers of hematological cancer patients and its association with patient symptom burden.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study including Danish patients (n = 375) and caregivers (n = 140). Caregivers completed scales for anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, health related QoL using the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, and caregiver roles using the Caregiver Roles and Responsibilities Scale. Patients reported symptoms using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. Analysis of covariance was used to examine associations between patient symptom burden and caregivers' QoL outcomes.

RESULTS

The results show that caregivers experience sleep difficulties, moderate anxiety, and reduced QoL. Patient symptom burden was significantly associated with caregiver anxiety (p = 0.009), and mental well-being (p = 0.002), while patient treatment status was a significant factor associated with caregiver anxiety (p = 0.016), depression (p = 0.009), emotional well-being (p = 0.002), and sleep (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Caregivers of patients with hematological cancers undergoing active treatment face a high symptom burden, which significantly impacts their QoL, including sleep, psychological well-being, and emotional health. Patients reported a high symptom burden, and patient symptom burden was significantly associated with caregiver QoL. Adequate patient and caregiver support is needed to promote their well-being and mitigate adverse health effects in caregivers, and this should be acknowledged in the context of caring for patients with hematological cancer.

Coping in caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) must cope with substantial caregiving burden, high rates of psychological distress, and diminished quality of life (QOL). However, data describing coping strategies before HSCT and the association between coping, QOL, and psychological outcomes in this population are lacking. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected during a multisite randomized clinical trial of a supportive care intervention in HSCT recipients and their caregivers. Caregivers completed the Brief COPE, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Caregiver Oncology Quality of Life Questionnaire to measure coping strategies, psychological distress, and QOL, respectively. We grouped coping into 2 higher-order domains: approach-oriented (ie, emotional support and active coping) and avoidant (ie, self-blame and denial). We used the median split method to describe the distribution of coping and multivariate linear regression models to assess the relationship between coping and caregiver outcomes. We enrolled 170 caregivers, with a median (range) age of 53 (47-64) years. Most were White (87%), non-Hispanic (96%), and female (77%). Approach-oriented coping was associated with less anxiety (β = -0.210, P = .003), depression symptoms (β = -0.160, P = .009), and better QOL (β = 0.526, P = .002). In contrast, avoidant coping was associated with more anxiety (β = 0.687, P<.001), depression symptoms (β = 0.579, P < .001), and worse QOL (β = -1.631, P < .001). Our findings suggest that coping is related to distress and QOL among caregivers of HSCT recipients even before transplant. Hence, caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing HSCT may benefit from resources that facilitate adaptive coping with the demands of caregiving.

Patient-caregiver relationship in cancer fatigue and distress. A dyadic approach

It has been shown that a reciprocal relationship between cancer patients and their family caregivers positively decreases distress in both. In this context we tried to explore the role of relationship reciprocity in the dyad members’ symptoms of fatigue and distress (anxiety and depression). Specifically, we aimed to assess the implications of relationship reciprocity testing the link between the various measurements of patient Quality of Life (QoL) and caregiver burden and the other measures of fatigue, distress, and relationship reciprocity. Moreover we aimed to examine the inter-relatedness of patients’ and caregivers’ relationship reciprocity with their own as well as fatigue and distress of the dyads. A convenience sample of 545 adult cancer patients and their caregivers from 15 cancer centers were examined using a cross-sectional design. Participants were administered dyadic measures (fatigue, distress, relationship reciprocity) and individual measures (patients’ QoL and caregivers’ burden). Patients’ QoL and caregivers’ Burden were associated with fatigue, distress and relationship reciprocity. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) revealed that each person’s relationship reciprocity was associated with their own distress and fatigue (actor effects); only caregivers’ relationship reciprocity was associated with patients’ fatigue and distress (partner effects). These findings suggest that the implication of the caregiving relationship for fatigue symptoms in both - patients and caregivers - appears worth of investigation.

Understanding the basis of major depressive disorder in oncological patients: Biological links, clinical management, challenges, and lifestyle medicine

In recent years, the incidence of different types of cancer and patient survival have been rising, as well as their prevalence. The increase in survival in recent years exposes the patients to a set of stressful factors such as more rigorous follow-up and more aggressive therapeutic regimens that, added to the diagnosis of the disease itself, cause an increase in the incidence of depressive disorders. These alterations have important consequences for the patients, reducing their average survival and quality of life, and for these reasons, special emphasis has been placed on developing numerous screening tests and early recognition of depressive symptoms. Despite that cancer and major depressive disorder are complex and heterogeneous entities, they also share many critical pathophysiological mechanisms, aiding to explain this complex relationship from a biological perspective. Moreover, a growing body of evidence is supporting the relevant role of lifestyle habits in the prevention and management of both depression and cancer. Therefore, the present study aims to perform a thorough review of the intricate relationship between depression and cancer, with a special focus on its biological links, clinical management, challenges, and the central role of lifestyle medicine as adjunctive and preventive approaches to improve the quality of life of these patients.

Telehealth cancer-related fatigue clinic model for cancer survivors: a pilot randomised controlled trial protocol (the T-CRF trial)

INTRODUCTION

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common and debilitating adverse effects of cancer and its treatment reported by cancer survivors. Physical activity, psychological interventions and management of concurrent symptoms have been shown to be effective in alleviating CRF. This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) will determine the feasibility of a telehealth CRF clinic intervention (T-CRF) to implement evidence-based strategies and assess the impact of the intervention on CRF and other clinical factors in comparison to usual care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A parallel-arm (intervention vs usual care) pilot RCT will be conducted at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Queensland, Australia. Sixty cancer survivors aged 18 years and over, who report moderate or severe fatigue on the Brief Fatigue Inventory and meet other study criteria will be recruited. Participants will be randomised (1:1) to receive the T-CRF intervention or usual care (ie, specialist-led care, with a fatigue information booklet). The intervention is a 24-week programme of three telehealth nurse-led consultations and a personalised CRF management plan. The primary objective of this pilot RCT is to determine intervention feasibility, with a secondary objective to determine preliminary clinical efficacy. Feasibility outcomes include the identification of recruitment methods; recruitment rate and uptake; attrition; adherence; fidelity; apathy; and intervention functionality, acceptability and satisfaction. Clinical and resource use outcomes include cancer survivor fatigue, symptom burden, level of physical activity, productivity loss, hospital resource utilisation and carer's fatigue and productivity loss. Descriptive statistics will be used to report on feasibility and process-related elements additional to clinical and resource outcomes.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This trial is prospectively registered (ACTRN12620001334998). The study protocol has been approved by the Metro South Health and Hospital Services Human Research Ethics Committee (MSHHS HREC/2020/QMS/63495). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, national and international conferences and seminars or workshops.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ID: ACTRN12620001334998; Pre-results. Trial Version: Version 1.1. Last updated 10 December 2020.

The Relationship Between Symptom Severity and Caregiver Burden in Cancer Patients Under Palliative Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Hospitalization is a stressful experience both for primary caregivers (PCs) and cancer patients alike. Although there is significant evidence that PCs of cancer patients can experience significant caregiver burden (CB), less is known about the relationships between PCs and patient symptom severity that influence CB. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, measures of the symptom severity were obtained from cancer patients. The PCs were assessed for CB. Associations between patients' symptoms and demographic characteristics and CB were investigated using multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 98 participants (patient-caregiver dyads) filled the questionnaires. According to the Zarit Burden Interview results, 65.3% of PCs had a high CB. Pain, tiredness, nausea, depression, drowsiness, well-being, and dyspnea had significantly higher mean values in those with high CB (p < .05). Financial difficulties, first-degree relationships with the patient, higher anxiety levels, and more pronounced tiredness appear to be the variables most predictive with high CB. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study showed CB of PCs among a group of hospitalized incurable cancer patients. PCs of more symptomatic cancer patients had a higher CB, according to our findings. This emphasized the significance of palliative care. Appropriate guidance should be provided for the psychostress caused by the CB.

Caregiver Burden and the Level of Perceived Social Support of Caregivers Helping with Inpatient Care of Patients with Gynecologic Cancer

AIM

This study aimed to determine the caregiver burden and the level of perceived social support of caregivers helping with inpatient care of patients with gynecologic cancer.

METHOD

This was a descriptive study. The research sample included 227 caregivers. These caregivers, whose informed consent was obtained, assisted in the inpatient care in gynecologic oncology clinics of 3 hospitals in Ankara, Turkey. The research data were collected using an information form developed to define the characteristics of patients and their caregivers. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used.

RESULTS

The average caregiving duration of the caregivers was 8.63±13.06 days. Their age, educational status, income, employment status, the number of children and duration of caregiving, sharing the caregiving, the difficulties faced during the caregiving significantly affected the caregiver burden and the perceived social support. It was found that there is a moderate, negative, and significant relationship between the scores of caregiver burden and perceived social support.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of these results, the nurses should adopt an integrated approach while providing care for patients with gynecologic cancer and plan the care by including the caregivers.

The Me in We dyadic communication intervention is feasible and acceptable among advanced cancer patients and their family caregivers

BACKGROUND

Advanced cancer affects the emotional and physical well-being of both patients and family caregivers in profound ways and is experienced both dyadically and individually. Dyadic interventions address the concerns of both members of the dyad. A critical gap exists in advanced cancer research, which is a failure of goals research and dyadic research to fully account for the reciprocal and synergistic effects of patients' and caregivers' individual perspectives, and those they share.

AIM

We describe the feasibility and acceptability of the Me in We dyadic intervention, which is aimed at facilitating communication and goals-sharing among caregiver and patient dyads while integrating family context and individual/shared perspectives.

DESIGN

Pilot study of a participant-generated goals communication intervention, guided by multiple goals theory, with 13 patient-caregiver dyads over two sessions.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Patients with advanced cancer and their self-identified family caregivers were recruited from an academic cancer center. Dyads did not have to live together, but both had to consent to participate and all participants had to speak and read English and be at least 18 years or age.

RESULTS

Of those approached, 54.8% dyads agreed to participate and completed both sessions. Participants generated and openly discussed their personal and shared goals and experienced positive emotions during the sessions.

CONCLUSIONS

This intervention showed feasibility and acceptability using participant-generated goals as personalized points of communication for advanced cancer dyads. This model shows promise as a communication intervention for dyads in discussing and working towards individual and shared goals when facing life-limiting or end-of-life cancer.

Multiphasic Prehabilitation Across the Cancer Continuum: A Narrative Review and Conceptual Framework

The field of cancer survivorship has significantly advanced person-centered care throughout the cancer continuum. Within cancer survivorship, the last decade has seen remarkable growth in the investigation of prehabilitation comprising pre-treatment interventions to prevent or attenuate the burden of oncologic therapies. While the majority of evidence remains in the surgical setting, prehabilitation is being adapted to target modifiable risk factors that predict poor treatment outcomes in patients receiving other systemic and localized anti-tumor treatments. Here, we propose a multiphasic approach for prehabilitation across the cancer continuum, as a conceptual framework, to encompass the variability in cancer treatment experiences while adopting the most inclusive definition of the cancer survivor.

Level of Burden and Health-Related Quality of Life in Caregivers of Palliative Care Patients

The complexity of palliative care means that the emotional distress and burden that primary family caregivers suffer under can be particularly high. The objective of this study was to determine the level of burden endured by these primary family caregivers and to identify the variables that predict it in the caregiving relatives of people who require home-based palliative care. A descriptive-correlational cross-sectional study was conducted. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from caregivers through a self-administered questionnaire that included questions from the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). A total of 77 caregivers participated; 66.2% were women, and the mean age was 61.5 years. Most (62.3%) were providing care to cancer patients. From among these data, the presence of anxiety as a clinical problem (48.1%), a high average fatigue score (FAS) of 23.0 (SD = 8.5), and the prevalence of intense overload (41.6%) stood out. We found statistically significant correlations between the variables of burden, fatigue, post-traumatic growth, anxiety, and depression, with the latter two being the main predictive variables of burden. In addition, caregiver burden was associated with a worsening of health. Identifying the factors that influence the appearance of overburden will allow the specific needs of careers to be assessed in order to offer them emotional support within the healthcare environment.

Impact of informal cancer caregiving across the cancer experience: A systematic literature review of quality of life

Objective

Informal caregiving may likely increase as the number of cancer survivors grows. Caregiving responsibilities can impact caregivers’ quality of life (QOL). Understanding the current state of the science regarding caregiving QOL could help inform future research and intervention development.

Methods

A systematic literature review in PubMed/Medline examined research on QOL among informal cancer caregivers and related psychosocial health outcomes. Original research articles in English, published between 2007 and 2017 about caregivers (aged >18 years) of adult cancer patients in the United States were included. Abstracted articles were categorized according to caregiving recipient's phase of survivorship (acute, middle to long-term, end of life/bereavement).

Results

Of 920 articles abstracted, 60 met inclusion criteria. Mean caregiver age ranged from 37 to 68 with the majority being female, non-Hispanic white, with at least a high school degree, and middle income. Almost half of the studies focused on caregivers who provided care for survivors from diagnosis through the end of active treatment. Studies examined physical health, spirituality, psychological distress, and social support. Differences in QOL were noted by caregiver age, sex, and employment status.

Significance of Results

Additional research includes the examination of the needs of diverse cancer caregivers and determines how additional caregiver characteristics (e.g., physical functioning, financial burden, etc.) affect QOL. This includes studies examining caregiver QOL in the phases following the cessation of active treatment and assessments of health systems, support services, and insurance to determine barriers and facilitators needed to meet the immediate and long-term needs of cancer caregivers.

Addressing the needs of terminally-ill patients in Bosnia-Herzegovina: patients' perceptions and expectations

BACKGROUND

Many terminally ill patients in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) fail to receive needed medical attention and social support. In 2016 a primary healthcare centreer (PHCC) in Doboj (BiH) requested the methodological and technical support of a local partner (Fondacija fami) and the Geneva University Hospitals to address the needs of terminally ill patients living at home. In order to design acceptable, affordable and sustainable solutions, we involved patients and their families in exploring needs, barriers and available resources.

METHODS

We conducted interviews with 62 purposely selected patients using a semi-structured interview guide designed to elicit patients' experiences, needs and expectations. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted, using an inductive thematic approach.

RESULTS

While patients were aware that their illnesses were incurable, they were poorly informed about medical and social support resources available to them. Family members appeared to be patients' main source of support, and often suffered from exhaustion and financial strain. Patients expressed feelings of helplessness and lack of control over their health. They wanted more support from health professionals for pain and other symptom management, as well as for anxiety and depression. Patients who were bedridden or with reduced mobility expressed strong feelings of loneliness, social exclusion, and stigma from community members and - occasionally - from health workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest a wide gap between patients' end-of-life care needs and existing services. In order to address the medical, psychological and social needs of terminally ill patients, a multi-pronged approach is called for, including not only better symptom management through training of health professionals and improved access to medication and equipment, but also a coordinated inter-professional, inter-institutional and multi-stakeholder effort aimed at offering comprehensive medical, psycho-social, educational and spiritual support.

Randomized controlled trial of an 8-week intervention combining self-care and hypnosis for post-treatment cancer patients: study protocol

Background

Cancer has a lot of consequences on patients’ quality of life (such as cancer-related fatigue (CRF), sleep difficulties and emotional distress) and on patients’ partners and their relationship, such as distress and communication difficulties. These consequences are undertreated, and interventions based on hypnosis often focus on breast cancer patients only. This paper describes the study protocol of a longitudinal randomized controlled trial aiming to assess the efficacy of an 8-week intervention combining hypnosis and self-care to improve cancer patients’ CRF, sleep and emotional distress and to indirectly improve their partners’ distress.

Methods

A power analysis required a total sample of 88 patients. To test the efficacy of the intervention, results of the experimental group receiving the intervention will be compared to those of the control group. Data will be collected by questionnaires, relaxation tasks, an attentional bias task, and everyday life assessments measured at four different times: 1.) before inclusion in the study (baseline); 2.) after the intervention; and 3.) at 4- and 12-month follow-up. Partners’ symptoms will also be evaluated with questionnaires at the same measurement times.

Discussion

There is a growing interest in alternative approaches (such as hypnosis) in addition to standard therapies in oncology settings. The results of this study should be useful for improving knowledge about long-term efficacy of hypnosis-based group interventions for CRF, sleep and distress among all types of cancer patients and their partners, and to better understand the mechanisms of emotional regulation in cancer patients through the attentional bias task.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03144154). Retrospectively registered on the 1st of May, 2017.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-5046-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The effect of routine training on the self-efficacy of informal caregivers of colorectal cancer patients

PURPOSE

Little is known about the degree to which caregiver training as part of routine clinical care influences caregiver self-efficacy. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between training during routine clinical cancer care and self-efficacy among caregivers of colorectal cancer patients.

METHODS

Caregivers completed a self-administered questionnaire about their experiences with training for specific patient problems and about their task-specific and general caregiving self-efficacy. Associations between training and self-efficacy were examined for each problem using multivariate logistic regression adjusted for caregiver age, race, care burden, education, perception of patient's health, and patient stage of disease.

RESULTS

Four hundred seventeen caregivers completed the survey (70% response rate), of whom 374 (90%) were female and 284 (68%) were the patient's spouse/partner. Overall, 77 (38%) reported inadequate training for pain, 80 (38%) for bowel, 121 (48%) for fatigue, 65 (26%) for medication administration, and 101 (40%) for other symptoms. The odds of having low self-efficacy were significantly higher among those with perceptions of inadequate training across the following cancer-related problems: pain 10.10 (3.36, 30.39), bowel 5.04 (1.98, 12.82), fatigue 8.45 (3.22, 22.15), managing medications 9.00 (3.30, 24.51), and other 3.87 (1.68, 8.93).

CONCLUSIONS

Caregivers commonly report inadequate training in routine colorectal cancer care. Significant and consistent associations between training adequacy and self-efficacy were found. This study supports the value of training caregivers in common cancer symptoms. Further work on how and when to provide caregiver training to best impact self-efficacy is needed.

Spouse cancer caregivers' burden and distress at entry to home hospice: The role of relationship quality

High-quality relationships may be protective for family caregivers. This study focuses on relationship quality categories (supportive and ambivalent) in spouse caregivers in cancer home hospice. The goals of this article are to, first, describe relationship quality categories among end-of-life caregivers and, second, test the effects of relationship quality categories on caregiver burden and distress within a stress process model. Using questionnaire data collected at entry to home hospice, we found relationship quality categories were proportionally similar to those seen in noncaregiver older adults. Relationship quality significantly predicted caregiver burden, which completely mediated the relationship between caregiver relationship quality and distress. Caregivers whose social contexts place them at risk for greater distress may benefit from increased clinical attention or intervention.

Sleep disturbances and related factors among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer

OBJECTIVE

Sleep disturbances among family caregivers (FCs) are common in advanced cancer. The comprehensive factors for sleep disturbances among the FCs of patients with cancer have not been investigated in Taiwan. The purposes of this study were to investigate the sleep disturbances among the FCs of patients with advanced cancer and to determine predictors of sleep disturbance.

METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 172 FCs. Data were collected using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and wrist actigraphy. A linear regression model was used to identify the predictive factors for sleep quality.

RESULTS

Seventy-six percent of the FCs experienced some sleep disturbances. Female gender, more fatigue, greater depression, more caregiving burden, and spending over 16 h per day on caregiving tasks were risk factors for sleep disturbances in caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep disturbances were common among the Taiwanese FCs of patients with advanced cancer. FCs with risk factors for sleep disturbances should be identified and provided assistance.

A prospective analysis on fatigue and experienced burden in informal caregivers of cancer patients during cancer treatment in the palliative phase

BACKGROUND

Although fatigue is the most frequently occurring symptom in patients with cancer, hardly anything is known about fatigue of their informal caregivers and the impact fatigue might have on perceived burden with providing care. We investigated the presence of fatigue in caregivers, its course and the relation of fatigue severity between caregivers and patients. Furthermore, we explored in caregivers whether fatigue severity was correlated to experienced burden.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Informal caregivers and patients on cancer treatment in the palliative phase completed questionnaires at baseline and follow-up (6 months later). To measure fatigue severity, both groups completed the Checklist Individual Strength. Additionally, caregivers completed the Caregivers Strain Index to assess experienced burden with providing care. Descriptive analyses, paired t-tests, χ(2)-tests, Pearson's correlations and regression analysis were performed.

RESULTS

At baseline 111 couples (patients and caregivers) participated, at follow-up 75 couples. At both time points 23% of caregivers were severely fatigued. There was no significant correlation between patients and caregivers on fatigue. Higher fatigue in both patients and caregivers was correlated with higher burden in caregivers and over 30% of burden could be explained by fatigue.

CONCLUSION

Almost a quarter of caregivers of patients on active palliative treatment were severely fatigued, which figure remained stable over time. Fatigue in both patients and caregivers was related to caregivers' burden. This observation should be taken into account with the growing demand on caregivers and the increase in cancer treatment options in the palliative setting.