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These findings provide the first description of the QOL of long-term survivors of lung cancer. Risk factors for poorer QOL are strongly linked to distressed mood, which is a potential target for intervention.

Background Chronic heart failure (CHF) causes great suffering for both patients and their partners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an integrated dyad care program with education and psychosocial support to patients with CHF and their partners during a postdischarge period after acute deterioration of CHF. Methods One hundred fifty-five patient-caregiver dyads were randomized to usual care (n = 71) or a psychoeducation intervention (n = 84) delivered in 3 modules through nurse-led face-to-face counseling, computer-based education, and other written teaching materials to assist dyads to develop problem-solving skills. Follow-up assessments were completed after 3 and 12 months to assess perceived control, perceived health, depressive symptoms, self-care, and caregiver burden. Results Baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of dyads in the experimental and control groups were similar at baseline. Significant differences were observed in patients’ perceived control over the cardiac condition after 3 (P < .05) but not after 12 months, and no effect was seen for the caregivers. No group differences were observed over time in dyads’ health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms, patients’ self-care behaviors, and partners’ experiences of caregiver burden. Conclusions Integrated dyad care focusing on skill-building and problem-solving education and psychosocial support was effective in initially enhancing patients’ levels of perceived control. More frequent professional contact and ongoing skills training may be necessary to have a higher impact on dyad outcomes and warrants further research.

Purpose: To describe respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function among long-term survivors of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and their relationship to quality of life (QOL). Methods: Cross-sectional survey of disease-free, 5-year minimum survivors of NSCLC (n ‫؍‬ 142; 54% women; average age, 71 years); the majority (74%) had received a lobectomy. Analysis included frequency of self-reported respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm, wheezing, breathlessness) as measured by the American Thoracic Society questionnaire, pulmonary function findings from hand-held spirometry, and QOL (Short Form-36). Results: Two thirds of survivors reported at least one respiratory symptom (mean, 1.3; SD, 1.2): 25% cough, 28% phlegm, 31% wheezing, and 39% dyspnea. Twenty-one percent reported that they spent most of the day in bed in the past 12 months because of respiratory symptoms. Average FEV 1 percentage predicted was 68% (SD, 23); 21% had < 50% predicted FEV 1 . Based on spirometry results, 36% had a moderate/severe obstructive and/or restrictive ventilatory disorder. Survivors exposed to second-hand smoke (28%) were more than three times as likely to report respiratory symptoms. Respiratory symptom burden contributed to diminished QOL in several domains. Conclusions: The majority of these survivors experienced respiratory symptoms, and more than one third reported dyspnea, including one of five patients with seriously diminished pulmonary function. Symptom burden, rather than ventilatory impairment, contributed to diminished QOL. Further study is needed to determine the patterns and effective management of posttreatment respiratory symptoms on survivors of lung cancer. (CHEST 2004; 125:439 -445)Key words: cancer survivors; chronic lung disease; lung neoplasms; pulmonary function; quality of life; respiratory symptoms; tobacco, smoking Abbreviations: ATS ϭ American Thoracic Society; df ϭ degrees of freedom; FEF 25-75% ϭ maximum expiratory flow rate; NSCLC ϭ non-small cell lung cancer; QOL ϭ quality of life; SF-36 ϭ Short Form-36 T he long-term consequences of the curative treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on pulmonary status, the frequency of respiratory symptoms, and the impact of these pulmonary consequences on the quality of life (QOL) of such survivors have not been previously reported. Respiratory distress, even among the 14% of patients with NSCLC who are disease-free survivors, 1 may negatively affect QOL. Dyspnea and other respiratory symptoms have been reported to negatively impact QOL in those with COPD and other chronic lung conditions, 2-8 but little information is available about the impact on people with cancer. 9 One study 10 suggests that patients with NSCLC may actually have better QOL than those with severe COPD.*From the School of Nursing (Drs. Sarna and Evangelista),

Many of the 23 million individuals with heart failure (HF) worldwide receive daily, unpaid support from a family member or friend. Although HF and palliative care practice guidelines stipulate that support be provided to family caregivers, the evidence-base to guide care for this population has not been comprehensively assessed. In order to appraise the state-of-the-science of HF family caregiving and recommend areas for future research, the aims of this review were to summarize: 1) how caregivers influence patients, 2) the consequences of HF for caregivers, and 3) interventions directed at HF caregivers. We reviewed all literature to December 2015 in PubMed and CINAHL using the search terms “heart failure” AND “caregiver.” Inclusion criteria dictated that studies report original research of HF family caregiving. Articles focused on children or instrument development or aggregated HF with other illnesses were excluded. We identified 120 studies, representing 5,700 caregivers. Research on this population indicates that: 1) caregiving situations vary widely with equally wide-ranging tasks for patients to help facilitate their health behaviors, psychological health and relationships, and quality of life (QoL); 2) caregivers have numerous unmet needs that fluctuate with patients’ unpredictable medical status, are felt to be ignored by the formal healthcare system, and can lead to distress, burden, and reduced QoL; and 3) relatively few interventions have been developed and tested that effectively support HF family caregivers. We provide recommendations to move the science forward in each of these areas that moves beyond descriptive work to intervention development and clinical trials testing.

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