TY - JOUR

T1 - Family caregiver quality of life and symptom burden in patients with hematological cancer

T2 - A Danish nationwide cross-sectional study

AU - Nielsen, Iben Husted

AU - Tolver, Anders

AU - Piil, Karin

AU - Kjeldsen, Lars

AU - Grønbæk, Kirsten

AU - Jarden, Mary

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Objective: To investigate the quality of life (QoL) and the impact of caregiving in family caregivers of hematological cancer patients and its association with patient symptom burden. Methods: A cross-sectional study including Danish patients (n = 375) and caregivers (n = 140). Caregivers completed scales for anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, health related QoL using the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, and caregiver roles using the Caregiver Roles and Responsibilities Scale. Patients reported symptoms using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. Analysis of covariance was used to examine associations between patient symptom burden and caregivers' QoL outcomes. Results: The results show that caregivers experience sleep difficulties, moderate anxiety, and reduced QoL. Patient symptom burden was significantly associated with caregiver anxiety (p = 0.009), and mental well-being (p = 0.002), while patient treatment status was a significant factor associated with caregiver anxiety (p = 0.016), depression (p = 0.009), emotional well-being (p = 0.002), and sleep (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Caregivers of patients with hematological cancers undergoing active treatment face a high symptom burden, which significantly impacts their QoL, including sleep, psychological well-being, and emotional health. Patients reported a high symptom burden, and patient symptom burden was significantly associated with caregiver QoL. Adequate patient and caregiver support is needed to promote their well-being and mitigate adverse health effects in caregivers, and this should be acknowledged in the context of caring for patients with hematological cancer.

AB - Objective: To investigate the quality of life (QoL) and the impact of caregiving in family caregivers of hematological cancer patients and its association with patient symptom burden. Methods: A cross-sectional study including Danish patients (n = 375) and caregivers (n = 140). Caregivers completed scales for anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, health related QoL using the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, and caregiver roles using the Caregiver Roles and Responsibilities Scale. Patients reported symptoms using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. Analysis of covariance was used to examine associations between patient symptom burden and caregivers' QoL outcomes. Results: The results show that caregivers experience sleep difficulties, moderate anxiety, and reduced QoL. Patient symptom burden was significantly associated with caregiver anxiety (p = 0.009), and mental well-being (p = 0.002), while patient treatment status was a significant factor associated with caregiver anxiety (p = 0.016), depression (p = 0.009), emotional well-being (p = 0.002), and sleep (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Caregivers of patients with hematological cancers undergoing active treatment face a high symptom burden, which significantly impacts their QoL, including sleep, psychological well-being, and emotional health. Patients reported a high symptom burden, and patient symptom burden was significantly associated with caregiver QoL. Adequate patient and caregiver support is needed to promote their well-being and mitigate adverse health effects in caregivers, and this should be acknowledged in the context of caring for patients with hematological cancer.

KW - Anxiety

KW - Caregivers

KW - Cross-sectional studies

KW - Hematologic diseases

KW - Patient care

KW - Quality of life

KW - Sleep

KW - Symptom azzssessment

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102538

DO - 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102538

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38457934

AN - SCOPUS:85187003752

VL - 69

JO - European Journal of Oncology Nursing

JF - European Journal of Oncology Nursing

SN - 1462-3889

M1 - 102538

ER -