Objective
Informal caregivers (family and friends) of people with cancer are
often unprepared for their caregiving role, leading to increased burden or
distress. CHESS (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System) is a
web-based lung cancer information, communication and coaching system for
caregivers. This randomized trial reports the impact on caregiver burden,
disruptiveness and mood of providing caregivers access to CHESS versus the
Internet with a list of recommended lung cancer websites.
Methods
285 informal caregivers of patients with advanced non-small cell lung
cancer were randomly assigned to a comparison group that received Internet
or a treatment group that received Internet and CHESS. Caregivers were
provided a computer and Internet service if needed. Written surveys were
completed at pretest and during the intervention period bimonthly for up to
24 months. ANCOVA analyses compared the intervention’s effect on
caregivers’ disruptiveness and burden (CQOLI-C), and negative mood
(combined Anxiety, Depression, and Anger scales of the POMS) at six months,
controlling for blocking variables (site, caregiver’s race, and
relationship to patient) and the given outcome at pretest.
Results
Caregivers randomized to CHESS reported lower burden
[t (84) = 2.36, p = .021,
d= .39] and negative mood [t (86) =
2.82, p = .006, d= .44] than those in the
Internet group. The effect on disruptiveness was not significant.
Conclusions
Although caring for someone with a terminal illness will always exact
a toll on caregivers, eHealth interventions like CHESS may improve
caregivers’ understanding and coping skills and, as a result, ease
their burden and mood.
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