scholarly journals Effect of handholding on heart rate variability in both patients with cancer and their family caregivers: a randomized crossover study

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko Sakuma ◽  
Hideaki Hasuo ◽  
Mikihiko Fukunaga
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiver ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Autonomic Functions ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
The Family ◽  
Randomized Crossover Study

Abstract Background Many family caregivers of patients with cancer feel guilty about self-care. A meaningful relationship with patients reduces such negative feelings and functions as self-care for family caregivers. Moreover, handholding improves autonomic functions in non-cancer patients. However, the effects of handholding on both patients with cancer and family caregivers remain unknown. Methods We evaluated the effects of handholding on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with cancer and their family caregivers. This randomized crossover study divided patients with cancer and their family caregivers into two trial groups: Handholding trial (the family caregiver holds the patient’s hand for five minutes) and Beside trial (the family caregiver stays beside the patient without holding their hand). The study included 37 pairs of patients with cancer who received treatment in the cancer department of a university hospital in Japan and their family caregivers (n = 74). The primary end-point was the change in HRV before and during the intervention. Results The median performance status of the patients was 3. An interaction was observed between trials in the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN) of HRV for family caregivers (F = 7.669; p = 0.006), and a significant difference in time course was observed between the trials (before p = 0.351; during p = 0.003). No interaction was observed between trials in the SDNN for patients (F = 0.331; p = 0.566). Only a main effect in time course (F = 6.254; p = 0.014) was observed. SDNN increased significantly during the intervention in both trials (Handholding trial: p = 0.002, Beside trial: p = 0.049). Conclusions Handholding improves autonomic functions of family caregivers and may function as self-care for family caregivers. Trial registration UMIN000020557. Registered on January 15, 2016.

scholarly journals Family caregiver emotional distress in advanced cancer: the DME-C scale psychometric properties

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2020-002608
Author(s):  
Joaquín T Limonero ◽  
Jorge Maté-Méndez ◽  
María José Gómez-Romero ◽  
Dolors Mateo-Ortega ◽  
Jesús González-Barboteo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Family Caregiver ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
The Family ◽  
End Stage

BackgroundFamily caregivers of patients with advanced illness at end of life often report high levels of emotional distress. To address this emotional distress is necessary to have adequate and reliable screening tools.AimThis study analyses the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the Family Caregiver Emotional Detection Scale for caregivers of patients with end-stage cancer (DME-C, Spanish acronym) who are receiving palliative care (PC).DesignMulticentre, cross-sectional study.Settings/participantsFamily caregivers of patients with advanced cancer at end of life receiving palliative treatment were interviewed to explore their emotional distress through the DME-C scale and other instruments measuring anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)), distress thermometer (DT) and overload (B), as well as a clinical psychological assessment (CPA).Results138 family caregivers, 85 (61.6%) female and 53 (38.4%) male, with an average age of 59.69±13.3 participated in the study. The reliability of the scale, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha, was 0.76, and its stability over time was 0.734. Positive, significant correlations were found between the DME-C and the scores for anxiety and depression registered on the HADS scale, as well as with the total result of this latter scale and the results for B, the DT and the CPA. A statistical analysis of the receiver-operating characteristic curves showed that the scale has a sensitivity and specificity of 75%, and that the cut-off point for the detection of emotional distress was a score ≥11. Fifty-four per cent of the caregivers displayed emotional distress according to this scale.ConclusionsThe DME-C displays good psychometric properties. It is simple, short, reliable and easy to administer. We believe that the instrument is useful for the detection of emotional distress in the family caregivers of hospitalised patients suffering from end-stage illnesses and receiving PC.

Effect of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia on neonatal autonomic functions: evaluation by heart rate variability

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (20) ◽  
pp. 2763-2769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahmi Özdemir ◽  
Özgür Olukman ◽  
Cem Karadeniz ◽  
Kıymet Çelik ◽  
Nagehan Katipoğlu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Autonomic Functions ◽  
Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia

scholarly journals Heart Rate Variability and Cardiovascular Reflex Tests for Assessment of Autonomic Functions in Preeclampsia

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meenakshi Chaswal ◽  
Raj Kapoor ◽  
Achla Batra ◽  
Savita Verma ◽  
Bhupendra S. Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Normal Pregnancy ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Autonomic Functions ◽  
Cardiovascular Reflex ◽  
Cardiovascular Reflex Tests

Alterations in the autonomic cardiovascular control have been implicated to play an important etiologic role in preeclampsia. The present study was designed to evaluate autonomic functions in preeclamptic pregnant women and compare the values with normotensive pregnant and healthy nonpregnant controls. Assessment of autonomic functions was done by cardiovascular reflex tests and by analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Cardiovascular reflex tests included deep breathing test (DBT) and lying to standing test (LST). HRV was analyzed in both time and frequency domain for quantifying the tone of autonomic nervous system to the heart. The time domain measures included standard deviation of normal R-R intervals (SDNN) and square root of mean squared differences of successive R-R intervals (RMSSD). In the frequency domain we measured total power (TP), high frequency (HF) power, low frequency (LF) power, and LF/HF ratio. Cardiovascular reflex tests showed a significant parasympathetic deficit in preeclamptic women. Among parameters of HRV, preeclamptic group had lower values of SDNN, RMSSD, TP, HF, and LF (ms2) and higher value of LF in normalised units along with high LF/HF ratio compared to normotensive pregnant and nonpregnant controls. Furthermore, normotensive pregnant women had lower values of SDNN, TP, and LF component in both absolute power and normalised units compared to nonpregnant females. The results confirm that normal pregnancy is associated with autonomic disturbances which get exaggerated in the state of preeclampsia.

Respite Tourism for Family Caregivers

2015 ◽  
pp. 218-231
Author(s):  
Robert Holda
Keyword(s):  
Family Member ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiver ◽  
Medical Tourism ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Loved One ◽  
Specific Target ◽  
Personal Time ◽  
The Family ◽  
Effects Of Stress

One of the most misunderstood and unappreciated segments of society in relation to medical tourism is the family caregiver; those caring for a loved one who sacrifice their own employment schedule, their personal time for relaxing and recreation, and often and importantly their own health. The purpose of this chapter is to raise awareness of the plight of family caregivers as an issue for medical tourism, the effects of stress and burnout, and the essential need for respite of body, mind, and spirit for these central assistants in the matter of healthcare for patients. Though healthcare and its subset, medical tourism, are frequently perceived as focused on a “patient”, they also encompass many other individuals and organizations. As addressed here, the focus is on the family member caring for a loved one. The intent is to link the concept of medical tourism as an avenue for relaxation and respite to enhance the wellness of this specific target market.

Caring for the Family Caregiver

2020 ◽  
pp. 200-214
Author(s):  
Elaine Wittenberg ◽  
Joy V. Goldsmith ◽  
Sandra L. Ragan ◽  
Terri Ann Parnell
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Family Caregiver ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Disease Information ◽  
The Family ◽  
Caregiver Needs ◽  
Literacy Framework

There is little evidence for caregiver assessment and interventions based on unique social and contextual factors of caregiving. Current approaches to caring for the family caregiver involve a “one size fits all” approach where caregiver assessment may or may not occur, and there is no link between identification of caregiver needs and recommended resources. When caregiver assessment does occur, it does not involve unique caregiving characteristics that positively impact communication and health literacy. Caring for the Family Caregiver, a communication and health literacy framework, is introduced and consists of teaching healthcare providers to address caregiving types by finding disease information, assessing and integrating information, partnering with the caregiver, finding support, talking with the caregiver, and planning for caregiver self-care. Directions for future research are also summarized.

A conceptual model and key variables for guiding supportive interventions for family caregivers of people receiving palliative care

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER HUDSON
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiver ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Family ◽  
Key Variables ◽  
Supportive Interventions ◽  
The Impact

According to the World Health Organization, the patient and family should be viewed as the “unit of care” when palliative care is required. Therefore family caregivers should receive optimal supportive care from health professionals. However, the impact of supporting a dying relative is frequently described as having negative physical and psychosocial sequalae. Furthermore, family caregivers consistently report unmet needs and there has been a dearth of rigorous supportive interventions published. In addition, comprehensive conceptual frameworks to navigate the family caregiver experience and guide intervention development are lacking. This article draws on Lazarus and Folkman's seminal work on the transactional stress and coping framework to present a conceptual model specific to family caregivers of patients receiving palliative care. A comprehensive account of key variables to aid understanding of the family caregiver experience and intervention design is provided.

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