Quality of Life of Family Caregivers and Challenges Faced in Caring for Patients With Lung Cancer

ABSTRACT Objective: Patients with lung cancer experience different feelings and reactions, based on their family, social, cultural, and religious backgrounds, which are a source of great distress, not only for the patients but also for their family caregivers. This study aimed to evaluate the impact that lung cancer stage and quality of life (QoL) of lung cancer patients have on caregiver burden. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. Consecutive patient-caregiver dyads were selected and asked to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item ShortForm Health Survey (SF-36). Family caregivers also completed the Caregiver Burden Scale. Group-based modeling was used in order to identify patients with early- or advanced-stage cancer (IA to IIIA vs. IIIB to IV) plus non-impaired or impaired QoL (SF36 total score > 50 vs. ≤ 50). Patient-caregiver dyads were stratified into four groups: early-stage cancer+non-impaired QoL; advanced-stage cancer+non-impaired QoL; early-stage cancer+impaired QoL; and advanced-stage cancer+impaired QoL. Results: We included 91 patient-caregiver dyads. The majority of the patients were male and heavy smokers. Family caregivers were younger and predominantly female. The burden, QoL, level of anxiety, and level of depression of caregivers were more affected by the QoL of the patients than by their lung cancer stage. The family caregivers of the patients with impaired QoL showed a higher median burden than did those of the patients with non-impaired QoL, regardless of disease stage. Conclusions: Caregiver burden is more affected by patient QoL than by lung cancer stage.

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The impact of lung cancer surgery on quality of life trajectories in patients and family caregivers

Lung Cancer ◽

10.1016/j.lungcan.2016.08.011 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 101 ◽

pp. 35-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jae Y. Kim ◽

Virginia Sun ◽

Dan J. Raz ◽

Anna Cathy Williams ◽

Rebecca Fujinami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lung Cancer ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Lung Cancer Surgery ◽

Cancer Surgery ◽

Life Trajectories ◽

The Impact

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Effects of gender and depressive symptoms on quality of life among colorectal and lung cancer patients and their family caregivers

Psycho-Oncology ◽

10.1002/pon.3580 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 95-105 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Youngmee Kim ◽

Michelle van Ryn ◽

Roxanne E. Jensen ◽

Joan M. Griffin ◽

Arnold Potosky ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lung Cancer ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Lung Cancer Patients

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Patients and family caregivers report high treatment expectations during palliative chemotherapy: a longitudinal prospective study

BMC Palliative Care ◽

10.1186/s12904-021-00731-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tine Ikander ◽

Stefan Starup Jeppesen ◽

Olfred Hansen ◽

Mette Raunkiær ◽

Karin Brochstedt Dieperink

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lung Cancer ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Palliative Chemotherapy ◽

Well Being ◽

Small Cell ◽

Small Cell Lung ◽

Treatment Expectations ◽

Thoracic Cancer

Abstract Background When discussing treatment options and future care, it is important to understand the expectations of patients and family caregivers related to palliative chemotherapy and to identify patterns in patients’ quality of life. The study aims were to evaluate differences in treatment expectations and quality of life between patients with thoracic cancer (non-small-cell lung cancer, small-cell lung cancer and mesothelioma) who were < 70 and ≥ 70 years of age and receiving palliative chemotherapy and to assess family caregivers’ treatment expectations. Methods A prospective longitudinal study included patients with thoracic cancer receiving outpatient palliative chemotherapy at a university hospital in Denmark and their family caregivers. Patients’ treatment expectations and quality of life were assessed three times during treatment with a survey of treatment expectations and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General questionnaire. Family caregivers’ treatment expectations were assessed once. Results A total of 48 patients and 36 family caregivers participated between 2018 and 2019. No statistically significant age-related differences in treatment expectations and quality of life were identified. 28% of patients aged < 70 years and 7% of those aged ≥70 years expected a cure. Among family caregivers, 36% expected a cure. Across both age groups, mean total quality of life scores significantly decreased from 73.2 at first palliative chemotherapy cycle to 70.5 at third cycle (p = 0.02). No meaningful changes were found in quality of life within either age group. A subgroup analysis found no significant between-group differences in quality of life. Mean physical well-being score for all patients decreased from 20.3 at first cycle to 18.4 at third cycle (p = 0.03) and mean emotional well-being score decreased from 15.4 at first cycle to 14.6 at third cycle (p = 0.04). Conclusion This study emphasizes the importance of initiating conversations about treatment expectations and paying attention to expectations that may differ by the age of the patient and between patients and family caregivers. Addressing treatment expectations among patients and family caregivers and monitoring quality of life among patients is important in clinical practice.

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121 Mediating Factors Between Caregiver Burden and Quality of Life in Caregivers of Older Patients with Newly Diagnosed Lung Cancer

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afab030.82 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. i12-i42

Author(s):

S Zhu ◽

C Yang ◽

J Li ◽

W Mei

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lung Cancer ◽

Social Support ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Caregiver Burden ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Older Patients ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Mediation Model

Abstract Introduction Family caregivers of older patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer become responsible for patients’ care, usually without preparation or training in provision of care. Their efforts of care generate caregiving burden, which could deteriorate their quality of life and affect the prognosis of patients. The aims of this study were to examine associations between caregiver burden and quality of life, coping, social support for family caregivers, and to investigate whether coping and social support mediate associations between family caregiver burden and their quality of life. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed at two thoracic surgery wards in one tertiary hospital in Changsha, China from November 2019 to May 2020. This study involved 224 family caregivers of patients aged over 50 years and newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Caregivers-reported outcomes were measured by Zarit caregiver burden interview, simplified coping style questionnaire, social support rating scale, and quality of life family version. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized mediation model. Results SEM indicated a good fit for the mediation model, which explained 49.7% of the variance of quality of life. Higher level of caregivers’ burden was negatively associated with quality of life (r = 0.183, P = 0.042). Coping partially mediated the effect of caregiver burden on quality of life (indirect effect −0.389, P = 0.000). Social support did not mediate the relationship between caregiver burden and quality of life (indirect effect −0.023, P = 0.087). Conclusions Caregivers’ burden of patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer is correlated to quality of life which is partially mediated by coping. Early intervention providing caregivers with positive coping strategies may improve their quality of life.

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Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial comparing integrative body–mind–spirit intervention and cognitive behavioral therapy in fostering quality of life of patients with lung cancer and their family caregivers

Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work ◽

10.1080/23761407.2018.1435325 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 258-276 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bobo Hi-Po Lau ◽

Amy Y.M Chow ◽

Daniel F. K Wong ◽

Jessie S. M Chan ◽

Celia H. Y Chan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lung Cancer ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Study Protocol ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Randomized Controlled

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Posttraumatic Growth, Quality of Life, and Survival Among Lung Cancer Patients

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e711332011-001 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Angela L. Dougall ◽

Jeffrey N. Swanson ◽

Andrew Baum

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lung Cancer ◽

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Lung Cancer Patients ◽

Growth Quality

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Role of Erlotinib in Influencing the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

Clinical Cancer Drugs ◽

10.2174/2212697x07999200820162006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 07 ◽

Author(s):

Deepika Purohit ◽

Parijat Pandey

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

Pancreatic Cancers ◽

Review Reports ◽

Causes Of Deaths

Background:: Cancer is one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality in patients globally. Lung cancer, among other cancers, remains to be one of the principal causes of deaths in both men and women. The most common type of lung cancer is the non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Apart from lung cancer, pancreatic cancer is also one of the common cancers currently. Objective:: The assessment of QoL in erlotinib-treated patients can also prove to be very useful in the establishment of this drug as the main treatment option for the patients with pancreatic and lung cancer. Methods:: Therapies that target EGFR-mediated signalling are the latest keystones for treating these two types of cancers. They comprise of two main treatment modalities: firstly, against the extracellular fields, that include monoclonal antibodies and secondly, mechanisms that create interferences in the signalling pathways, primarily the small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Results:: Quality of life (QoL) is one of the key advantages in erlotinib therapy over chemotherapy. Conclusion:: The present review reports the role of erlotinib in improving the quality of life of cancer patients especially in NSCLC and pancreatic cancers. The studies or trials establishing the relations between erlotinib and QoL are discussed in detail in this review.

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