Associations between caregiving worries and psychophysical well-being. An investigation on home-cared cancer patients family caregivers

9522 Background: Evidence suggests that patients’ quality of life (QOL) at the end of life (EOL), i.e., patients’ quality of death, may affect the health and well-being of informal family caregivers. Here we examine the relationship between family caregivers’ perception of patients’ QOL at the EOL and caregiver suicidal ideation in bereavement. Methods: Our analysis was based on data from a sub-sample of family caregivers (N=112) from the Coping with Cancer Study, an NCI-funded multicenter prospective cohort investigation of advanced cancer patients and their caregivers enrolled September 2002 – February 2008. Caregiver baseline suicidal ideation was assessed using the Yale Evaluation of Suicidality (YES) Scale a median of 4.1 months pre-loss; caregivers’ perception of patients’ overall distress in the last week of life was assessed a median of 1.9 months post-loss; and caregiver suicidal ideation in bereavement was assessed using the YES a median of 6.5 months post-loss. Suicidal ideation was defined as a positive screen on the YES. Multiple logistic regression analysis examined the effect of caregivers’ perception of patients’ quality of death on bereaved caregiver suicidal ideation, adjusting for caregivers’ baseline suicidal ideation and potential demographic confounds. Results: Caregivers’ perception of patients’ overall distress at the EOL was significantly related to caregivers’ suicidal ideation post-loss (AOR=1.26, p=0.022) adjusting for caregivers’ baseline suicidal ideation, relationship to patient, and years of education. Conclusions: The more caregivers’ perceive their loved ones’ quality of death to be poor, the more they are at risk for suicidal ideation in bereavement. Improving QOL at the EOL will not only benefit patients but also protect caregivers from suicidal ideation.

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The Effect of Caregiver Reaction on Psychological Well-being among Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients

Korean Journal of Adult Nursing ◽

10.7475/kjan.2017.29.6.647 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 647 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kyoung Hee Kim ◽

Yong Soon Shin

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being

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Understanding the concept of a “good death” among bereaved family caregivers of cancer patients in Singapore

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951511000691 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 37-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Geok Ling Lee ◽

Ivan Mun Hong Woo ◽

Cynthia Goh

Keyword(s):

End Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Family Caregiver ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Death ◽

Advanced Cancer Patients ◽

The Family ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Bereaved Family

AbstractObjective:The aim of this study was to examine the concept of a good death from the perspectives of both the dying person and the family caregiver, as perceived by bereaved family caregivers of advanced cancer patients.Method:The data were gathered from five focus group discussions and one face-to-face qualitative interview conducted over 8 months among 18 bereaved family caregivers recruited from a local hospice. The transcripts of the focus groups and the interview were entered into NVivo Version 8 and were analyzed using the thematic approach.Results:A good death may be understood as having the biopsychosocial and spiritual aspects of life handled well at the end of life. Five major themes were identified. These were preparation for death, family and social relationships, moments at or near death, comfort and physical care, and spiritual well-being. Differences were also noted in what is important at the end of life between the patients and caregivers. Having a quick death with little suffering was perceived to be good by the patient, but the family caregiver wanted to be able to say a final goodbye to the patient. Patients tend to prefer not to die in their children's presence but the children wished to be present for the final moment. In addition, family caregivers reported it was important for them to be able to give the patients permission to die, to feel recognized for the efforts made, and to have had a fulfilling caregiving experience.Significance of results:Whereas there are global attributes of a good death, our findings suggest that patients and family caregivers may define a good death differently. Therefore, there is a need to respect, address, and reconcile the differences, so that all parties may have a good experience at the end of a person's life.

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Palliative care and spiritual well-being in lung cancer patients and family caregivers

Psycho-Oncology ◽

10.1002/pon.3987 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (12) ◽

pp. 1448-1455 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Virginia Sun ◽

Jae Y. Kim ◽

Terry L. Irish ◽

Tami Borneman ◽

Rupinder K. Sidhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Well Being ◽

Lung Cancer Patients ◽

Spiritual Well Being

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Exploring the associations between spiritual well-being, burden, and quality of life in family caregivers of cancer patients

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951518000160 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (03) ◽

pp. 294-299 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Roberta Spatuzzi ◽

Maria Velia Giulietti ◽

Marcello Ricciuti ◽

Fabiana Merico ◽

Paolo Fabbietti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Caregiver Burden ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Medical Outcomes ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Outcomes Study

AbstractObjectiveThe spiritual dimension is important in the process of coping with stress and may be of special relevance for those caring for cancer patients in the various phases of caregivership, although current attention is most prevalent at the end of life. This study explores the associations among spiritual well-being (SWB), caregiver burden, and quality of life (QoL) in family caregivers of patients with cancer during the course of the disease.MethodThis is a cross-sectional study. All participants (n = 199) underwent the following self-report questionnaires: the SWB-Index, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, and the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI). SWB scores were dichotomized at a cutoff corresponding to the 75th percentile. Statistical analyses were made using the Student t or by chi-square test to compare high and low SWB groups.ResultThe high SWB group reported significantly better Medical Outcomes Study Short Form scores in bodily pain (p = 0.035), vitality (p < 0.001), social activities (p = 0.001), mental health (p < 0.001), and in standardized mental component subscales (p < 0.001) than the low SWB group. No significant differences were detected between the two SWB groups in physical activity, physical role, general health, emotional status, and standardized physical component scale. The high SWB group also had better CBI scores in the physical (p = 0.049) and developmental burden (p = 0.053) subscales. There were no significant differences in the other CBI scores (overall and sections).Significance of resultsThis study points out that high SWB caregivers have a more positive QoL and burden. Knowledge of these associations calls for more attention on the part of healthcare professionals toward spiritual resources among family cancer caregivers from the moment of diagnosis and across the entire cancer trajectory.

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