Dataset Information

Examining Caregiver Outcomes in the CONNECT Intervention for Patients With Advanced Cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Palliative care offers patient and family centered approaches that may mitigate risk of caregiver burden and poor mood.

Objectives

To determine whether a palliative care intervention (CONNECT) improved burden, mood, and self-efficacy among caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

In this cluster randomized trial, patients and their caregivers were recruited from 17 Oncology clinics in Pennsylvania. Participants attended nurse-led monthly visits, addressing patient symptoms, goals of care, and advance care planning. At baseline and three months, we measured caregiver burden using Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12; range 0-48), caregiver anxiety and depression using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS-A, range 0-21; HADS-D, range 0-21). We measured caregiver self-efficacy at three months using Caregiver Inventory (CGI; range 0-189).

Results

We enrolled 441 caregivers and 381 completed three-month assessments. We found no significant differences in caregiver burden (adjusted mean difference -0.39; 95% CI -1.07-0.29, P = 0.90), depression (adjusted mean difference -0.22, 95% CI -0.97-0.55, P = 0.26), or anxiety (adjusted mean difference 0.09; 95% CI -1.25-1.43, P = 0.58), between the intervention and standard care at three months. Caregiver self-efficacy was higher at three months in the intervention compared to standard care (adjusted mean difference 9.36; 95% CI 0.95-17.77, P = 0.030).

Conclusion

Caregivers in CONNECT did not experience improved burden or mood, however, they reported higher self-efficacy compared to caregivers receiving standard care. This study highlights the need for strategies to optimize caregiver outcomes in palliative care interventions.

SUBMITTER: Semere W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10191108 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Examining Caregiver Outcomes in the CONNECT Intervention for Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Semere Wagahta W Althouse Andrew D AD Arnold Robert R White Douglas D Smith Thomas J TJ Chu Edward E Rosenzweig Margaret Q MQ Schenker Yael Y

Journal of pain and symptom management 20221209 3

<h4>Context</h4>Palliative care offers patient and family centered approaches that may mitigate risk of caregiver burden and poor mood.<h4>Objectives</h4>To determine whether a palliative care intervention (CONNECT) improved burden, mood, and self-efficacy among caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.<h4>Methods</h4>In this cluster randomized trial, patients and their caregivers were recruited from 17 Oncology clinics in Pennsylvania. Participants attended nurse-led monthly visits, addressi ...[more]

PMID: 36503155

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Project description:ImportanceGuidelines recommend early specialty palliative care for all patients with advanced cancer, but most patients lack access to such services.ObjectiveTo assess the effect of CONNECT (Care Management by Oncology Nurses to Address Supportive Care Needs), a primary palliative care intervention delivered by oncology nurses, on patient outcomes.Design, setting, and participantsThis cluster randomized clinical trial of the CONNECT intervention vs standard care was conducted from July 25, 2016, to October 6, 2020. Participants were adult patients with metastatic solid tumors who were undergoing oncological care and for whom an oncologist would agree with the statement "would not be surprised if the patient died in the next year." The trial was conducted at 17 community oncology practices in western Pennsylvania. Data analyses adhered to the intention-to-treat principle.InterventionsThe CONNECT intervention included 3 monthly visits with an existing infusion room nurse who was trained to address symptoms, provide emotional support, engage in advance care planning, and coordinate care.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was quality of life. At baseline and 3 months, participants completed assessments of quality of life (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative care: score range, 0-184, with higher scores indicating better quality of life), symptom burden (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale: score range, 0-90, with higher scores indicating greater symptom burden), and mood symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]: score range, 0-21, with higher scores indicating substantial anxiety and depression). Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate adjusted mean differences in 3-month outcomes. Preplanned, intensity-adjusted analyses were conducted.ResultsA total of 672 patients were enrolled (mean [SD] age, 69.3 [10.2] years; 360 women [53.6%]). The mean (SD) number of CONNECT visits completed was 2.2 (1.0). At 3 months, no difference in mean (SD) quality-of-life score was found between the CONNECT and standard care groups (130.7 [28.2] vs 134.1 [28.1]; adjusted mean difference, 1.20; 95% CI, -2.75 to 5.15; P = .55). Similarly, there was no difference between groups in 3-month mean (SD) symptom burden (23.2 [16.6] vs 24.0 [16.1]; adjusted mean difference, -2.64; 95% CI, -5.85 to 0.58; P = .11) or mood symptoms (HADS depression subscale score: 5.1 [3.4] vs 4.8 [3.7], adjusted mean difference, -0.08 [95% CI, -0.71 to 0.57], P = .82; HADS anxiety subscale score: 5.7 [3.9] vs 5.4 [4.2], adjusted mean difference, -0.31 [95% CI, -0.96 to 0.33], P = .34). Intensity-adjusted analyses revealed a larger estimated treatment effect for patients who received a full dose (3 visits) of the CONNECT intervention.Conclusions and relevanceThis cluster randomized clinical trial found that a primary palliative care intervention that was delivered by oncology nurses did not improve patient-reported outcomes at 3 months. Primary palliative care interventions with a higher dose intensity may be beneficial for most patients with advanced cancer who lack access to palliative care specialists.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02712229.

Project description:BackgroundUsing available communication technologies, clinicians may offer timely support to family caregivers in managing symptoms in patients with advanced cancer at home.AimTo assess the effects of an online symptom reporting system on caregiver preparedness, physical burden, and negative mood.DesignA pooled analysis of two randomized trials (NCT00214162 and NCT00365963) was conducted to compare caregiver outcomes at 6 and 12 months after intervention between two randomized, unblinded groups using General Linear Mixed Modeling. Caregivers in one group (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System-Only) were given access to an interactive cancer communication system, the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System. Those in the other group (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System + Clinician Report) received access to Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System plus an online symptom reporting system called the Clinician Report. Clinicians of patients in the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System + Clinician Report group received e-mail alerts notifying them when a symptom distress was reported over a predetermined threshold.Setting/participantsDyads (n = 235) of advanced-stage lung, breast, and prostate cancer patients and their adult caregivers were recruited at five outpatient oncology clinics in the United States.ResultsCaregivers in the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System + Clinician Report group reported less negative mood than those in the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System-Only group at both 6 months (p = 0.009) and 12 months (p = 0.004). Groups were not significantly different on caregiver preparedness or physical burden at either time point.ConclusionsThis study provides new evidence that by using an online symptom reporting system, caregivers may experience less emotional distress due to the Clinician Report's timely communication of caregiving needs in symptom management to clinicians.

Project description:BackgroundClinicians and researchers often have to rely on information from caregivers to assess patients with advanced cancer. This study aims to assess the validity (using patients' assessment as the gold standard) of caregiver reports of patient concerns and the roles of caregiver burden and positivity.MethodsA total of 64 advanced cancer patient and informal caregiver dyads were recruited from regional palliative care services and interviewed. Patients' outcomes were assessed with both the patient and the caregiver version of the Palliative Outcome Scale (POS); caregiver burden and positivity were collected with the Zarit Burden interview (ZBI) and three questions on achievements and relationships. The agreement between patient- and caregiver-rated POS was measured with weighted kappa statistics. The roles of caregiver burden and positivity in POS agreement were studied with logistic regression controlling for potential confounders; adjusted odds ratios were estimated from the models.ResultsAgreement was substantial for pain, moderate for four items, fair for three items and slight for two items. Compared with patients self-ratings, caregivers described more problems with information given and sharing feelings and were less likely to assess the patient felt their life was worthwhile or felt good about themselves. Disagreement for three POS item ratings was significantly associated with higher caregiver burden: "feeling anxious"(OR: 4.5; 95%CI: 1.3 to 15.6), "life worthwhile"(OR: 12.4; 95%CI: 2.9 to 54.3) and "felt good" (OR: 7.7; 95%CI: 2.0 to 29.6). Caregivers with higher positivity scores were more likely to agree patients' rating of "felt good"(OR: 0.3; 95%CI: 0.1-0.9) but at increased risk of disagreeing about patient's "practical problems"(OR: 4.2; 95%CI: 1.1 to 16.6).ConclusionCaregiver burden and positivity affect their assessments, especially of psychological patient domains and whether patients assess their life as worthwhile. Awareness of this might help clinicians and researchers better interpret caregiver assessments.

Project description:BackgroundMedication adherence is crucial for improving clinical outcomes in the treatment of patients with cancer. The lack of adherence and adverse drug reactions can reduce the effectiveness of cancer therapy including the quality of life. The commonly used intervention methods for medication adherence continue to evolve, and the age of fifth-generation (5G) messaging has arrived.ObjectiveIn this study, we conducted a prospective, pilot randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of 5G messaging on medication adherence and clinical outcomes among patients with cancer in China.MethodsThe research population was patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer undergoing pemetrexed chemotherapy who require regular folic acid (FA) and vitamin B12 supplements. The intervention and control groups were assigned to 5G messaging and second-generation (2G) messaging, respectively. The patients' medication adherence and quality of life were assessed at baseline and 1-month and 3-month time points. Moreover, the chemotherapy-related hematologic or nonhematologic toxicities, as well as the serum levels of FA and vitamin B12, were measured.ResultsOf the 567 patients assessed for eligibility between January and May 2021, a total of 154 (27.2%) patients were included. Overall, 80 were randomized to the control group and 74 to the intervention group. The odds of adherence in the 5G messaging intervention group were significantly higher than the control group at the 1-month (62/69, 90% vs 56/74, 76%; adjusted odds ratio 2.67, 95% CI 1.02-7.71) and 3-month (50/60, 83% vs 48/64, 75%; adjusted odds ratio 2.36, 95% CI 1.00-5.23) time points. Correspondingly, the FA and vitamin B12 serum levels of patients in the 5G messaging group were higher than those of the control group. Regarding hematologic toxicities, only the incidence of leukopenia in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group (25/80, 31% in the control group vs 12/74, 16% in the intervention group; P=.04). There were no differences in nonhematologic toxicities and quality of life between the 2 groups.ConclusionsIn summary, we conclude that compared with conventional 2G text-based messaging, a 5G messaging intervention can better improve medication adherence and clinical outcome among patients with cancer.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200058188; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=164489.

Dataset Information

Examining Caregiver Outcomes in the CONNECT Intervention for Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Context

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Examining Caregiver Outcomes in the CONNECT Intervention for Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Similar Datasets

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