The association between patient’s and partner’s fatigue in couples coping with colorectal cancer: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Background Couples coping with colorectal cancer were monitored during the first year after diagnosis to evaluate the following: (i) levels of patients' and partners' fatiguehereby comparing their scores to each other and a normative population, (ii) association between patients' and partners' fatigue, (iii) the course of partners' fatigue, and (iv) biopsychosocial predictors of the partners' fatigue, including the patients' level of fatigue. Method Couples (n = 171) preoperatively completed questions regarding age and sex as well as questionnaires assessing neuroticism and trait anxiety. Questionnaires assessing fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were measured preoperative (time-0) and 3 (time-1), 6 (time-2), and 12 months (time-3) postoperative. Patients' clinical characteristics were retrieved from the Eindhoven Cancer Registry. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and linear mixed effect models were used. Results Compared with a normative population, partners' fatigue was similar (p > .05), while patients' fatigue was higher at Time-2 and Time-3 (p values <.001). At each time point, correlations between patients' and partners' fatigue were small (r < .30). Partner's course of fatigue was as follows: 18.2 at time-0, 19.0 at time-1, 19.4 at time-2, and 19.2 at time-3 (p = 0.64). Scoring higher on neuroticism (β = .12) and trait anxiety (β = .23), and more depressive symptoms (β = .30) significantly contributed to higher partners' fatigue. Conclusion Trait anxiety, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms predicted higher levels of partners' fatigue, while demographic factors, patients' fatigue, and clinical factors did not. Health professionals are advised to be alert for partners with a vulnerable personality and depressive symptoms. If needed, they can for instance refer to a psychologist for treatment.

Trajectory of Caregiver Burden and Associated Factors in Family Caregivers of Individuals with Colorectal Cancer: A Longitudinal, Observational Multicenter Study

“… 7 As a result, approximately 30% of caregivers will experience fatigue, and their fatigue level will increase with time in a year. 8 Kim et al found that approximately 25% of FCs of colorectal cancer patients show moderate to severe depression within 6 months after patient diagnosis. 9 In addition, the social burden of FCs of patients with colorectal cancer is not optimistic.…”

The development and evaluation of a web-based complex intervention: The caring for couples coping with colorectal cancer “4Cs: CRC” program

“… 1 With CRC diagnosis and treatment, patients often experience both physical and mental issues, including pain, sexual dysfunction, and depression. 2 , 3 Spouses of cancer patients, as the primary caregivers, also face multiple challenges, including a heavy caregiving burden, lack of knowledge, and role conflicts. 3 , 4 Over time, both partners tended to report similar and poorer cancer adaptation results, such as lower marital satisfaction and worse quality of life, than before.…”

“… 2 , 3 Spouses of cancer patients, as the primary caregivers, also face multiple challenges, including a heavy caregiving burden, lack of knowledge, and role conflicts. 3 , 4 Over time, both partners tended to report similar and poorer cancer adaptation results, such as lower marital satisfaction and worse quality of life, than before. 4 , 5 Moreover, patient adaptation is not only affected by their own coping behavior, but also by their spouse's behavior and adaptation, and vice versa.…”

“…Based on the fact that for couples, the CRC-related stress and adaptation process is multifaceted and interactive, complex couples-based interventions are required to support CRC patient–spouse dyads. 2 , 3 , 5 Complex interventions refer to interventions composed of multiple interacting components, which have standardized intervention functions and procedures. 8 , 9 , 10 A wide variety of complex interventions has been carried out in the healthcare field.…”

A feasibility study of an integrated couples‐based supportive programme for Chinese couples living with colorectal cancer

“…In the context of CRC, evidence has shown that both CRC patients and their partners are affected during the cancer journey (Traa et al., 2015a) and associations and an interdependent nature exist between CRC patients and their partners in several areas, for example, fatigue (Traa et al., 2016), sexual function and marital function (Traa et al., 2015b). A study also reported that relationship quality within patient‐partner dyads affected a couple's adjustment to CRC, specifically, good relationship functioning benefits psychosocial adjustment (Kayser et al., 2018).…”