Support service use and interest in support services among distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients

Abstract Objectives Diagnosis of cancer is emotionally threatening not only for patients but also for their family caregivers (FC) who witness and share much of the illness experience. This study compares distress experienced by lung cancer patients and their FC during the year following the diagnosis. Methods A prospective cohort study of 206 patients recently diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer (participation rate 79.5%) and 131 FC (participation rate 63.6%) was conducted in an ambulatory oncology clinic in Quebec City (Canada). They completed validated questionnaires regarding their personal and psychological characteristics (Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale—HADS), in the first months after the diagnosis of lung cancer and after 6 and 12 months. Univariate, bivariate, and linear mixed models were conducted to compare patient and FC distress. Results At baseline, 7.8% of patients reported distress (HADS total score >15) and their mean distress score was 7.0 ± 4.9 (range 0–42). In contrast, 33.6% of FC presented significant distress and their mean distress score was 12.0 ± 7.2 (P < 0.0001). Proportions of patients and FC with distress remained relatively stable at 6 and 12 months, and at every time point, FC reported higher levels of distress compared to their relative with cancer (P < 0.0001). Comparable trends were found when looking at the mean scores of distress, anxiety, and depression throughout the study. Significance of results Being diagnosed with lung cancer and going through its different phases seems to affect more FC than patients. The psychological impact of such diagnosis appears early after the diagnosis and does not significantly change over time. These findings reinforce the importance for oncology teams, to include FC in their systematic distress screening program, in order to help them cope with their own feelings and be able to play their role in patient support and care throughout the cancer journey.

Download Full-text

Dyadic psychosocial intervention for advanced lung cancer patients and their family caregivers: Results of a randomized pilot trial

Cancer ◽

10.1002/cncr.29009 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 121 (1) ◽

pp. 150-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

Hoda Badr ◽

Cardinale B. Smith ◽

Nathan E. Goldstein ◽

Jorge E. Gomez ◽

William H. Redd

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Psychosocial Intervention ◽

Pilot Trial ◽

Advanced Lung Cancer ◽

Lung Cancer Patients

Download Full-text

Randomized Pilot Trial of a Telephone Symptom Management Intervention for Symptomatic Lung Cancer Patients and Their Family Caregivers

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management ◽

10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.04.006 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 469-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Catherine E. Mosher ◽

Joseph G. Winger ◽

Nasser Hanna ◽

Shadia I. Jalal ◽

Lawrence H. Einhorn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Symptom Management ◽

Pilot Trial ◽

Lung Cancer Patients ◽

Management Intervention

Download Full-text

Distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients: an examination of psychosocial and practical challenges

Supportive Care in Cancer ◽

10.1007/s00520-012-1532-6 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 431-437 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Catherine E. Mosher ◽

Heather A. Jaynes ◽

Nasser Hanna ◽

Jamie S. Ostroff

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Lung Cancer Patients

Download Full-text

Barriers to mental health service use and preferences for addressing emotional concerns among lung cancer patients

Psycho-Oncology ◽

10.1002/pon.3488 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (7) ◽

pp. 812-819 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Catherine E. Mosher ◽

Joseph G. Winger ◽

Nasser Hanna ◽

Shadia I. Jalal ◽

Achilles J. Fakiris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Lung Cancer ◽

Mental Health Service ◽

Health Service ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Service Use ◽

Mental Health Service Use ◽

Health Service Use ◽

Lung Cancer Patients

Download Full-text

Post-Acute Care Service use in Lung Cancer Patients

10.21203/rs.3.rs-809617/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mitra McLarney ◽

Frances S. Shofer ◽

Jasmine Zheng

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Acute Care ◽

Service Use ◽

Care Service ◽

Rehabilitation Service ◽

Lung Cancer Patients ◽

Acute Care Service ◽

Post Acute Care

Abstract Purpose: Lung cancer patients experience functional deconditioning secondary to their underlying cancer and treatment yet rehabilitation service use remains low. The goal of this study is to compare post-acute care service use in lung cancer patients admitted to a metropolitan academic medical center. Methods: Adult lung cancer patients admitted from January 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018 with a diagnosis of lung cancer based on International Classification of Diseases 10, C34.0-C34.9, were included in this study. Patient characteristics including age, gender, race, marital status, functional status on admission, length of stay, and number of comorbidities were compared based on discharge setting. Results: 1,139 lung cancer patients were included in our study. The majority of patients discharged home with home care (51%) followed by home without services (35%), skilled nursing facilities (SNF) (10%) and acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) (4%). 44% (498) of patients were primarily admitted for their lung cancer diagnosis. In unadjusted analyses, patients who discharged to SNF compared to home were more likely to be older, black, unmarried, live alone and have died during the study period. Patients who discharged to IRF had longer acute care hospitalization length of stays. In adjusted analyses, age, number of concurrent comorbidities and length of stay significantly correlated with discharge location. Conclusion: Lung cancer patients are unlikely to be discharged to a post-acute care facility after an acute hospitalization. Rehabilitation service use differs by sociodemographic factors, concurrent medical history and functional status. Future study is needed to better understand why these differences in discharge setting persists.

Download Full-text

Examination of differences in quality of life and use of support services in urban versus rural breast cancer patients.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2013.31.31_suppl.98 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (31_suppl) ◽

pp. 98-98

Author(s):

Sarah Roberts ◽

Shahid Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Support Groups ◽

Support Services ◽

Service Use ◽

Support Service ◽

Life Assessment ◽

Significant Difference

98 Background: Many patients travel great distances, both for testing and for medical care. Previous studies have indicated that there can be significantly poorer quality of life in urban cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determine any differences in support service use and quality of life in rural versus urban patients in Saskatchewan. Methods: This study is a survey based qualitative and quantitative analysis of women with breast cancer receiving treatment at the Saskatoon Cancer Center (SCC) in Saskatchewan, Canada. Surveys included demographic information, support service utilization and suggestions, as well as the WHO-QOL-bref quality of life assessment. Surveys were collected from 51 women with an age range of 43 to 87 years with a median age of 63. Participants travelled a mean distance of 99.2km to treatment center (range 1.9 – 307.6 km, SD 101 km) with 49% women travelling greater than 100 km (rural group) and 51% travelling less than 100 km (urban group). Results: Only 50% of urban participants and 56% of rural participants reported using support services at the SCC though this was found to be statistically non-significant by Fisher Exact Testing (p= 0.781). The support services reported to be most useful were nursing phone assessments, medication information, pharmacist support and mailing of medications. Further support services that participants would like to have available include: online support groups and blogs, local support groups, physician visits to rural communities and patient liaisons to help navigate the system. Overall, urban participants rated their quality of life on average at 3.96 with rural participants reporting 3.84 on a five-point scale, though non-significant by t-test (p=0.617). The WHO-QOL-bref study examines quality of life in 4 domains: physical health, psychological wellbeing, social and environment. Urban participants scored 68%, 72%, 76% and 77% in the 4 domains respectively while rural participants scored 61%, 73%, 79% and 78% in the 4 domains respectively. Conclusions: Our study did not find any significant difference between urban and rural patients in reported quality of life or support service use.

Download Full-text