C6
The health and well-being of family caregivers of palliative care lung cancer patients
Moyra E Mills1, Liam J Murray1, Brian T Johnston2, Michael Donnelly1
1Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK, 2Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK
Background
A cancer diagnosis can have a devastating impact on families, particularly caregivers. The UK Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) recognises the potential detrimental effects and the need to monitor and survey caregivers of cancer patients. This study was undertaken in order to assess the psychosocial impact of caring for palliative care lung cancer patients in the context of a wider study of patients.
Method
Caregivers were recruited in conjunction with the recruitment of patients. Carers completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and provided qualitative data. Data was collected at baseline, two and four months later. Three to four positive scores out of the twelve GHQ questions potentially indicates distress, requiring further investigation. Qualitative data from an optional free-text box on the questionnaires were content analysed.
Results
68/115 caregivers gave written informed consent. Age-range 20-83 years (mean 52); 28% (19) male and 72% (49) female; 62% (43) were partners, 31% (21) children, 7% (5) siblings/other. The number of caregivers with 4 or more positive scores was high, with over 40% of caregivers indicating that they had psychological distress at each time point. The highest levels of psychological distress were evident at month two. Four themes emerged from the qualitative data: Positive aspects of caring, negative aspects, acceptance of the diagnosis and neutral or descriptive comments of the patients’ clinical pathway.
Conclusion
Caregivers in this study experienced high levels of psychological distress and there is a need for health care professionals to consider caregivers for treatment and support.
