Burden and Depression Among Caregivers of Patients With Cancer at the End of Life

Abstract

Purpose/Objectives-The purpose of the study was to examine the patient and family caregiver variables that predicted caregiver burden and depression for family caregivers of patients with cancer at the end-of-life.Design-A prospective, longitudinal study was implemented with an inception cohort of patients and their family caregivers who were followed after the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Data were analyzed using quantitative methods to determine the effect of caregiver age, sex, education, relationship to the patient, employment status, reports of patients' symptoms, patient cancer type, stage of cancer, and time from the patient's diagnosis to death on caregiver burden and depression at the patient's end-of-life. This report examines the experiences of family caregivers whose patients died during the study. Setting-Patients and caregivers were accrued from community oncology sites in the Midwestern United States.Sample-152 family caregivers of patients with cancer who died during the course of the study.Methods-Telephone interviews with patients were conducted at 6-8 weeks, 12-16 weeks, 24-30 weeks, and 52 weeks following patients' diagnoses. In addition, patient medical records and state death certificates were reviewed.Findings-Caregivers aged 45-54 reported the highest levels of depressive symptoms; caregivers aged 35-44 reported the strongest sense of abandonment. Caregivers who were the adult children of patients with cancer and who were employed reported high levels of depressive symptoms. Feeling abandoned (a portion of caregiver burden) was more prevalent in female, non-spouse, and adult

Review of the literature on the effects of caring for a patient with cancer

“…There is also little research about how other variables change during the course of the FC experience, such as employment, social support, role strain, anxiety, depression, and quality of care for the patient. That problem experience varies widely during different stages of the illness was found in adult cancer patients [58,90]. Therefore, it is highly likely that FCs experience similar variations as well.…”

Symptoms in the cancer patient – Of importance for their caregivers' quality of life and mental health?

“…Studies have been performed during different stages of the cancer patients' disease trajectory, and for caregivers there are reported burden (Given et al, 2004;Goldstein et al, 2004;Doorenbos et al, 2007;Higginson et al, 2008), reaction in terms of particular burden and well-being (McCorkle et al, 1993;Nijboer et al, 1999;Hagedoorn et al, 2002;Grov et al, 2006c), quality of life (QOL) (Grov, 2005;Clark, 2006;Grov et al, 2006b), mental health (Edwards et al, 2004;Grov, 2005) , and a large number of specific aspects influencing the caregivers' situation, e.g. work and economy (Goldzweig et al, 2009), and the impact of educational level and educational programs facilitated for caregivers (Clark, 2006;Goldzweig et al, 2009).…”

Pårørendes opplevelser og erfaringer ved ufrivillig vekttap hos lungekreftpasienter i palliativ fase

“…Når pårørende ikke verbaliserer eller uttrykker, kan de stå i fare for tilleggslidelser som depressive reaksjoner (28). En kvalitativ studie (29) viser at kvinnelige pårørende til lungekreftpasienter er mer utsatt for depresjon, og helsepersonell må vaere oppmerksom på denne tilleggsdimensjonen.…”