Work

Passages of cancer caregivers' unmet needs across 8 years

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Identifying and addressing caregivers' unmet needs have been suggested as a way of reducing their distress and improving their quality of life. However, the needs of family cancer caregivers are complex in the period of long-term survivorship in particular because they may diverge as the patients' survivorship trajectory does, and that is what this study investigated. METHODS: Family cancer caregivers completed prospective, longitudinal surveys 2, 5, and 8 years after diagnosis (n = 633). Early caregiving characteristics and demographics were measured at 2 years. Caregiver status (former caregivers-remission, current caregivers, and bereaved caregivers) and unmet needs were measured at 3 assessments. RESULTS: Caregivers' unmet needs at 8 years were attributable to the passages of the caregiving status as their patients' illness trajectory diverged from the initial state of receiving care. Specifically, either prolonged caregiving or having a break from caregiving followed by bereavement during long-term survivorship was related to various domains of unmet needs at 8 years (t > 2.35, P < .02). Early perceived caregiving stress also predicted all domains of unmet needs at 8 years (t > 2.50, P < .02). Unmet needs at 8 years were the highest across the 3 assessment time points (F > 37.51, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The caregiving status trajectory over 8 years was a substantial predictor of family caregivers' unmet needs at the 8-year mark. Findings provide guidance for the development of evidence-based programs and patient/caregiver-centered care policies to reduce the unmet needs of family caregivers, which reflect the diverse trajectories of cancer caregivership, many years after the diagnosis of their patients.

Source: Cancer

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33053

Authors: Youngmee Kim, Charles S. Carver, Amanda Ting, Rachel S. Cannady

Institutions: University of Miami, American Cancer Society

Language: English

Topic: Nursing care and research

Subfield: Pharmacy

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: American Cancer Society, National Institute of Nursing Research