Measurement of Patients' Acceptable Symptom Levels and Priorities for Symptom Improvement in Advanced Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Limited research has evaluated the success criteria and priorities for symptom improvement of patients with cancer to inform patient-centered care. In this study, we adapted and tested a measure of these constructs, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Questionnaire (PCOQ), for patients with advanced prostate cancer. We compared acceptable symptom severity levels following symptom treatment across 10 symptoms and identified patient subgroups based on symptom importance. Methods: Patients with advanced prostate cancer (N = 99) participated in a one-time survey, which included a modified version of the PCOQ, standard symptom measures, and additional clinical characteristics. Results: The modified PCOQ demonstrated construct validity through its correlations with related theoretical constructs. There was a moderate correlation between symptom severity and importance. Acceptable symptom severity levels were generally low, with sexual dysfunction having a higher acceptable severity than most other symptoms. Three patient subgroups were identified: (1) those who rated all symptoms as low in importance (n = 43); (2) those who rated all symptoms as moderately important (n = 33); and (3) those who rated all symptoms as highly important (n= 18). Subgroups were associated with functional status, fatigue, sleep problems, pain, and emotional distress. Conclusion: The modified PCOQ demonstrated preliminary evidence of construct validity. Patients generally considered low symptom severity to be acceptable, with variations across symptoms. Results suggest that symptom severity and importance are related but distinct aspects of the symptom experience in advanced prostate cancer. Patients' diverse priorities for symptom improvement point to the need for individualized treatment plans.

Cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based interventions for distress in patients with advanced cancer: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Various psychosocial interventions have been developed to reduce distress and improve quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced cancer, many of which are traditional cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBIs) or mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). The aims of this meta-analysis were to determine and compare the overall effects of traditional CBIs and MBIs on distress and QoL in this population and to explore potential moderators of intervention efficacy. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CBIs or MBIs to controls on distress and QoL outcomes were eligible for inclusion. Random effects meta-analyses using standardized baseline to post-intervention mean differences were calculated using Hedges's g. Meta-regressions were used to compare intervention effects and examine potential moderators. RESULTS: Across 37 RCTs (21 CBIs, 14 MBIs, 2 combination therapies), there was a small decrease in distress (Hedges's g = 0.21) and a minimal improvement in QoL (Hedges's g = 0.15). Traditional CBIs and MBIs did not differ in effect sizes. Heterogeneity was significant across distress effect sizes but not across QoL effects. Interventions delivered to individuals (vs. dyads/group) had larger effects on QoL. No moderators of intervention effects on distress were found. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest traditional CBIs and MBIs produce small reductions in distress compared to controls in patients with advanced cancer, although effects on QoL appear minimal. Given limitations in the number of studies and their quality, rigorous trials are needed to directly compare the impact of traditional CBIs and MBIs in this population.

Preliminary validation of the Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised in cancer populations.

OBJECTIVE: A brief, valid, and comprehensive measure of mindfulness is needed for cancer populations. This study examined the factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, and measurement invariance of the 10-item Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R) in patients with cancer. METHODS: Patients with breast, gastrointestinal, lung, or prostate cancer (N = 404, 50% stage IV cancer, 51% women) were recruited from academic and public clinics in Indianapolis, IN. Patients completed the CAMS-R and other psychological measures at one time point. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the dimensionality of the CAMS-R. Internal consistency and construct validity were also assessed. Measurement invariance was examined for gender, cancer type, and cancer stage. RESULTS: CFA showed that the original CAMS-R structure with four first-order factors (attention, present focus, awareness, and acceptance) and one second-order factor (mindfulness) had a reasonable fit (RMSEA = 0.09, CFI = 0.95, SRMR = 0.04). Internal consistency was excellent (α = 0.90). The CAMS-R total score showed significant positive associations with several subscales of a widely used mindfulness questionnaire and self-compassion (rs = 0.61-0.66) and significant negative associations with anxiety, depressive symptoms, rumination, psychological inflexibility, and avoidant coping (rs = -0.35-0.58). Measurement invariance testing indicated that the CAMS-R was invariant across populations of varying genders, cancer types, and stages. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide preliminary support for using the CAMS-R in cancer populations. Future research should assess the responsiveness of the CAMS-R to intervention.

Impact of acceptance and commitment therapy on physical and psychological symptoms in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients and caregivers: Secondary results of a pilot randomized trial.

Patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer often experience high symptom burden, which is associated with heightened distress in both patients and their family caregivers. Few interventions have been tested to jointly address patient and caregiver symptoms in advanced gastrointestinal cancer. In a randomized pilot trial, telephone-based, dyadic acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) was found to be feasible in this population. The present secondary analyses examined the impact of this intervention on patient and caregiver physical and psychological symptoms. Patients and caregivers (N = 40 dyads) were recruited from clinics in Indianapolis, Indiana and randomized to either six weeks of telephone-based ACT or education/support, an attention control condition. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 2 weeks and 3 months post-intervention. Study group differences in outcomes were not statistically significant. However, when examining within-group change, only ACT patients experienced moderate reductions in pain severity and interference at 2 weeks post-intervention (effect size [ES]=-0.47; -0.51) as well as moderate reductions in depressive symptoms at 2 weeks (ES=-0.42) and 3 months (ES=-0.41) post-intervention. ACT caregivers experienced moderate reductions in sleep disturbance (ES=-0.56; -0.49) and cognitive concerns (ES=-0.61; -0.85) across follow-ups. Additionally, caregivers in both conditions experienced moderate reductions in fatigue (ES=-0.38 to -0.70) and anxiety (ES=-0.40 to -0.49) across follow-ups. Findings suggest that ACT may improve certain symptoms in dyads coping with advanced gastrointestinal cancer and warrant replication in a larger trial.

Preliminary Validation of the Injustice Experience Questionnaire in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

CONTEXT: When diagnosed with advanced cancer, patients may perceive their situation as an injustice. The Injustice Experience Questionnaire (IEQ) is a 12-item measure of perceived unfairness originally developed for patients with chronic pain. The factor structure, reliability, and validity of the IEQ in patients with cancer have not been assessed. OBJECTIVES: To examine the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the IEQ in patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: Patients with advanced lung or prostate cancer (N = 201) were recruited from academic and public clinics in Indianapolis, IN. Patients completed the 12-item IEQ and other measures of psychological processes and distress. IEQ instructions were modified to focus on cancer-related perceived injustice. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the dimensionality of the measure. Internal consistency reliability and construct validity were examined. RESULTS: CFA showed that the original IEQ's 2-factor structure had an adequate fit (RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0.96, SRMR = 0.05). The factors included Severity/irreparability and Blame/unfairness. Internal consistency was excellent (α = 0.92, ω = 0.94). The IEQ showed significant positive associations with physical and psychological symptoms (rs = 0.20 - 0.65, Ps < 0.05). The IEQ also showed significant negative associations with quality of life and acceptance of cancer (rs=-0.51 - -0.46, Ps < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings provide preliminary support for using the IEQ in patients with advanced cancer. Future research should assess the sensitivity of the IEQ to change in an interventional context.

The efficacy of psychosocial interventions for cancer caregiver burden: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Caregivers of adults with cancer often provide prolonged demanding assistance (e.g., physical, emotional) to their loved ones, resulting in caregiver burden. This meta-analytic review examined the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in reducing caregiver burden in caregivers of adults with cancer. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from six electronic databases and clinical trial registries. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for subgroups of interventions and control conditions. Overall, 90 records describing 50 RCTs showed that psychosocial interventions reduced caregiver burden compared to passive controls (e.g. wait-list) at post-intervention (g = 0.26, 95%CI [0.12, 0.40]), but not at the first follow-up (g = 0.10, 95%CI [-0.05, 0.24]). Subgroup analyses showed that compared to passive controls, therapeutic counseling and skills training interventions significantly reduced caregiver burden at post-intervention, whereas psycho-education/support interventions did not significantly reduce burden. Very few RCTs examined intervention efficacy compared to active controls (e.g., psycho-education/support). The evidence grade ranged from very low to moderate due to inconsistency and imprecision of the results. Therapeutic counseling and skills training interventions appear efficacious in improving caregiver burden at post-intervention, although these improvements attenuate over time. Rigorous trials examining intervention effects on long-term outcomes are needed to better understand the effective mechanisms to sustain reduction in caregiver burden.

Relations of perceived injustice to psycho-spiritual outcomes in advanced lung and prostate cancer: Examining the role of acceptance and meaning making.

OBJECTIVE: Many advanced cancer patients struggle with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and anger toward God and illness-related stressors. Patients may perceive their illness as an injustice (i.e., appraise their illness as unfair, severe, and irreparable or blame others for their illness), which may be a risk factor for poor psychological and spiritual outcomes. This study examined relations between cancer-related perceived injustice and psycho-spiritual outcomes as well as potential mediators of these relationships. METHODS: Advanced lung (n = 102) and prostate (n = 99) cancer patients completed a one-time survey. Using path analyses, we examined a parallel mediation model including the direct effects of perceived injustice on psycho-spiritual outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depressive symptoms, anger about cancer, anger towards God) and the indirect effects of perceived injustice on psycho-spiritual outcomes through two parallel mediators: meaning making and acceptance of cancer. We then explored whether these relations differed by cancer type. RESULTS: Path analyses indicated that perceived injustice was directly and indirectly-through acceptance of cancer but not meaning making-associated with psycho-spiritual outcomes. Results did not differ between lung and prostate cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced cancer patients with greater perceived injustice are at higher risk for poor psycho-spiritual outcomes. Acceptance of cancer, but not meaning making, explained relationships between cancer-related perceived injustice and psycho-spiritual outcomes. Findings support testing acceptance-based interventions to address perceived injustice in advanced cancer patients.

Comparative responsiveness and minimally important difference of Fatigue Symptom Inventory (FSI) scales and the FSI-3 in trials with cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a highly prevalent and disabling symptom in cancer survivors. Although many measures have been developed to assess survivors' fatigue, their ability to accurately capture change following intervention has rarely been assessed in post-treatment survivors. Ultra-brief fatigue measures are preferable in clinical practice but have limited evidence supporting their use with cancer survivors. We examined the psychometric properties of four Fatigue Symptom Inventory (FSI) measures, including the new FSI-3, in cancer survivors. Examined properties included responsiveness to change and minimally important differences (MIDs). METHODS: We analyzed data from three randomized controlled trials with post-treatment cancer survivors (N = 328). Responsiveness to change was evaluated by comparing standardized response means for survivors who reported their fatigue as being better, the same, or worse at 2-3 months. Responsiveness to intervention was assessed via effect sizes, and MIDs were estimated by using several methods. We also computed area under the curve (AUC) values to assess FSI measures' discriminative accuracy compared to an established cut-point. RESULTS: All FSI measures differentiated survivors who reported improvement at 2-3 months from those with stable fatigue, but did not uniformly differentiate worsening fatigue from stable fatigue. Measures showed similar levels of responsiveness to intervention, and MIDs ranged from 0.29 to 2.20 across FSI measures. AUC analyses supported the measures' ability to detect significant fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Four FSI scales show similar responsiveness to change, and estimated MIDs can inform assessment of meaningful change in fatigue. The FSI-3 shows promise as an ultra-brief fatigue measure for survivors.

Meaning in Life and the Acceptance of Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Meaning in life and acceptance of cancer are critical for patients to adjust to a cancer diagnosis and to improve psychological wellbeing. Little is known about the relationship between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer. This study provides a systematic review of the associations between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer in cancer patients. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS databases were searched until 15 March 2021. Studies were included if they quantitatively examined the association between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer in adult cancer patients/survivors and if they were published in peer-reviewed journals or in books. The study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Of the 4907 records identified through database searches, only 3 studies quantitatively examined the associations between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer. The total sample involved 464 women with cancer. All three studies reported positive correlations between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer (ranging from r = 0.19 to r = 0.38), whereas meaning in life did not predict the acceptance of cancer. Overall, the meaning in life-acceptance relationship has not been sufficiently investigated, though it has relevant theoretical and clinical implications for coping with cancer. High-quality studies are needed to better understand the relationship between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer.

Acceptance and commitment therapy for patient fatigue interference and caregiver burden in advanced gastrointestinal cancer: Results of a pilot randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue often interferes with functioning in patients with advanced cancer, resulting in increased family caregiver burden. Acceptance and commitment therapy, a promising intervention for cancer-related suffering, has rarely been applied to dyads coping with advanced cancer. AIM: To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy for patient-caregiver dyads coping with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. Primary outcomes were patient fatigue interference and caregiver burden. DESIGN: In this pilot trial, dyads were randomized to six weekly sessions of telephone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy or education/support, an attention control. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 2 weeks and 3 months post-intervention. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients with stage III-IV gastrointestinal cancer and fatigue interference and family caregivers with burden or distress were recruited from two oncology clinics and randomized. RESULTS: The eligibility screening rate (54%) and retention rate (81% at 2 weeks post-intervention) demonstrated feasibility. At 2 weeks post-intervention, acceptance and commitment therapy participants reported high intervention helpfulness (mean = 4.25/5.00). Group differences in outcomes were not statistically significant. However, when examining within-group change, acceptance and commitment therapy patients showed moderate decline in fatigue interference at both follow-ups, whereas education/support patients did not show improvement at either follow-up. Acceptance and commitment therapy caregivers showed medium decline in burden at 2 weeks that was not sustained at 3 months, whereas education/support caregivers showed little change in burden. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptance and commitment therapy showed strong feasibility, acceptability, and promise and warrants further testing. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04010227. Registered 8 July 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04010227?term=catherine+mosher&draw=2&rank=1.

Examining Health Behaviors of Chronic Disease Caregivers in the U.S.

INTRODUCTION: Many informal caregivers experience a significant caregiving burden, which may interfere with their health behaviors. Caregiver health behaviors may vary by disease context, but this has rarely been studied. This study compares the health behaviors of prevalent groups of chronic illness caregivers (i.e., dementia, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema, diabetes) with those of noncaregivers and examines whether caregiving intensity is associated with these behaviors. METHODS: In 2021, using pooled cross-sectional 2015-2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, diet, alcohol use, smoking, sleep, and influenza immunization) of caregivers of patients with dementia (n=5,525), cancer (n=4,246), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema (n=1,959), and diabetes (n=2,853) and noncaregivers (n=203,848) were compared. Relationships between caregiving intensity (e.g., hours, type of tasks) and caregiver health behaviors were examined. Regression analyses were used to compare groups. RESULTS: Compared with noncaregivers, caregiver groups were more likely to report engaging in both risky (i.e., smoking, shorter sleep duration) and health-promoting (i.e., physical activity, vegetable consumption, abstaining from heavy drinking) behaviors, whereas nonsignificant differences were observed for influenza immunization. Longer caregiving hours and providing help with personal care were associated with poorer health behaviors (e.g., shorter sleep duration). Few differences in health behaviors were observed between caregivers of patients with dementia and other caregiver groups. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that caregivers are more likely to engage in both risky and health-promoting behaviors than noncaregivers. Furthermore, findings suggest that greater caregiving responsibilities are associated with certain risky health behaviors. Findings support the development and implementation of strategies to improve caregivers' health behaviors across disease contexts.

Acceptance and commitment therapy for fatigue interference in advanced gastrointestinal cancer and caregiver burden: protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue interference with activities, mood, and cognition is one of the most prevalent and bothersome concerns of advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients. As fatigue interferes with patient functioning, family caregivers often report feeling burdened by increasing responsibilities. Evidence-based interventions jointly addressing cancer patient fatigue interference and caregiver burden are lacking. In pilot studies, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has shown promise for addressing symptom-related suffering in cancer patients. The current pilot trial seeks to test a novel, dyadic ACT intervention for both advanced GI cancer patients with moderate-to-severe fatigue interference and their family caregivers with significant caregiving burden or distress. METHODS: A minimum of 40 patient-caregiver dyads will be randomly assigned to either the ACT intervention or an education/support control condition. Dyads in both conditions attend six weekly 50-min telephone sessions. Outcomes are assessed at baseline as well as 2 weeks and 3 months post-intervention. We will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of ACT for improving patient fatigue interference and caregiver burden. Secondary outcomes include patient sleep interference and patient and caregiver engagement in daily activities, psychological flexibility, and quality of life. We will also explore the effects of ACT on patient and caregiver physical and mental health service use. DISCUSSION: Findings will inform a large-scale trial of intervention efficacy. Results will also lay the groundwork for further novel applications of ACT to symptom interference with functioning and caregiver burden in advanced cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04010227 . Registered 8 July 2019.

Symptom Treatment Preferences of Cancer Survivors: Does Fatigue Level Make a Difference?

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is among the most prevalent symptoms in cancer survivors and often co-occurs with other symptoms. However, little is known about survivors' preferences for treating CRF and associated symptoms. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine cancer survivors' interest in learning skills to manage CRF and associated symptoms and their interest in various nonpharmacologic interventions and modalities. These outcomes were compared between survivors with high and normal fatigue. METHODS: Breast, gastrointestinal, lung, and prostate cancer survivors (N = 338) completed a 1-time survey, including a Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System fatigue measure and a checklist assessing interest in learning skills to manage CRF and associated symptoms as well as interest in nonpharmacologic interventions and modalities. RESULTS: Many cancer survivors reported interest in learning skills to manage CRF (range, 35%-78%) and associated symptoms (range, 13%-48%). Compared with survivors with normal fatigue (n = 180), highly fatigued survivors (n = 158; Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System fatigue T score ≥ 55) were more likely to report interest in learning skills to manage various symptoms, self-compassion training, and programs offered individually and in person. Interest in other interventions and modalities did not vary by fatigue level. CONCLUSIONS: Many cancer survivors, especially those with high fatigue, report interest in learning symptom management skills. Given survivors' high level of interest in complementary and integrative health interventions, future research should continue to assess their impact on symptoms and functioning. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses can offer a menu of evidence-based options for symptom management, given survivors' diverse preferences. Nurses can also provide psychoeducation regarding their preferred treatments.

Symptom experiences in advanced cancer: Relationships to acceptance and commitment therapy constructs.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined relations between acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) constructs and symptom-based subgroups of advanced cancer patients. METHODS: Patients with advanced breast, gastrointestinal, lung, and prostate cancer (N = 201) completed questionnaires assessing five common symptoms and ACT variables (i.e., psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion, values obstruction and progress, peaceful acceptance, mindfulness, and activity engagement) on one occasion. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis showed three patient classes: (1) normal levels of all symptoms (32%); (2) normal levels of all symptoms except for mild sleep problems and moderate fatigue (19%); and (3) normal pain, mild levels of sleep problems, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, and moderate fatigue (48%). Controlling for demographic covariates, lower psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion, and values obstruction were associated with a higher likelihood of being in classes 1 or 2 than class 3. In addition, greater values progress, peaceful acceptance, mindfulness, and activity engagement were associated with a higher likelihood of being in class 1 than class 3. Of these four factors, only greater mindfulness and activity engagement were associated with a higher likelihood of being in class 2 than class 3. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced cancer patients show heterogeneous symptom profiles, and even mild to moderate symptom levels are related to greater withdrawal from personally meaningful activities and less acceptance of cancer and internal experiences (e.g., symptoms, thoughts, feelings). Findings are consistent with the ACT model and support further testing of ACT to address symptom interference with functioning in advanced cancer patients.

Measurement of patients' acceptable symptom levels and priorities for symptom improvement in advanced lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Little research has assessed cancer patients' success criteria and priorities for symptom improvement to inform patient-centered care. Thus, we modified and tested a measure of these constructs for advanced lung cancer patients. We compared acceptable severity levels following symptom treatment across eight symptoms and identified patient subgroups based on symptom importance. METHODS: Advanced lung cancer patients (N=102) completed a one-time survey, including the modified Patient-Centered Outcomes Questionnaire (PCOQ), standard symptom measures, and other clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The modified PCOQ showed evidence of construct validity through associations with theoretically related constructs. Symptom severity and importance were moderately correlated. Levels of acceptable symptom severity were low and did not differ across the eight symptoms. Four patient subgroups were identified: (1) those who rated all symptoms as low in importance (n=12); (2) those who rated bronchial symptoms and sleep problems as low in importance and all other symptoms as moderately important (n=29); (3) those who rated nausea and emotional distress as low in importance and all other symptoms as moderately important (n=23); and (4) those who rated all symptoms as highly important (n=33). Subgroups were unrelated to clinical characteristics, except for functional status. CONCLUSION: The modified PCOQ showed evidence of construct validity. Patients considered low symptom severity to be acceptable, irrespective of the symptom. Findings suggest that symptom severity and importance are related yet distinct aspects of the advanced lung cancer symptom experience. Patients have heterogeneous priorities for symptom improvement, which has implications for tailoring treatment.

Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on fatigue in cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to determine the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in improving fatigue-related outcomes in adult cancer survivors. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases and reference lists of included studies. Separate random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for fatigue and vitality/vigor. Twenty-three studies reporting on 21 RCTs (N = 2239) met inclusion criteria. MBIs significantly reduced fatigue compared to controls at post-intervention (g = 0.60, 95 % CI [0.36, 0.83]) and first follow-up (g = 0.42, 95 % CI [0.20, 0.64]). Likewise, MBIs significantly improved vitality/vigor at post-intervention (g = 0.39, 95 % CI [0.25, 0.52]) and first follow-up (g = 0.35, 95 % CI [0.03, 0.67]). The evidence grade was low due to risk of bias, substantial heterogeneity, and publication bias among studies. MBIs show promise in improving fatigue and vitality/vigor in cancer survivors. More rigorous trials are needed to address current gaps in the evidence base.

Health-Related Quality of Life: A Comparative Analysis of Caregivers of People With Dementia, Cancer, COPD/Emphysema, and Diabetes and Noncaregivers, 2015-2018 BRFSS.

BACKGROUND: Many informal caregivers experience significant caregiving burden and report worsening health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Caregiver HRQoL may vary by disease context, but this has rarely been studied. PURPOSE: Informed by the Model of Carer Stress and Burden, we compared HRQoL outcomes of prevalent groups of caregivers of people with chronic illness (i.e., dementia, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]/emphysema, and diabetes) and noncaregivers and examined whether caregiving intensity (e.g., duration and hours) was associated with caregiver HRQoL. METHODS: Using 2015-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, we identified caregivers of people with dementia (n = 4,513), cancer (n = 3,701), COPD/emphysema (n = 1,718), and diabetes (n = 2,504) and noncaregivers (n = 176,749). Regression analyses were used to compare groups. RESULTS: Caregiver groups showed small, nonsignificant differences in HRQoL outcomes. Consistent with theory, all caregiver groups reported more mentally unhealthy days than noncaregivers (RRs = 1.29-1.61, ps < .001). Caregivers of people with cancer and COPD/emphysema reported more physically unhealthy days than noncaregivers (RRs = 1.17-1.24, ps < .01), and caregivers of people with diabetes reported a similar pattern (RR = 1.24, p = .01). However, general health and days of interference of poor health did not differ between caregivers and noncaregivers. Across caregiver groups, most caregiving intensity variables were unrelated to HRQoL outcomes; only greater caregiving hours were associated with more mentally unhealthy days (RR = 1.13, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that HRQoL decrements associated with caregiving do not vary substantially across chronic illness contexts and are largely unrelated to the perceived intensity of the caregiving. Findings support the development and implementation of strategies to optimize caregiver health across illness contexts.

Relations of Mindfulness and Illness Acceptance With Psychosocial Functioning in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer and Caregivers.

OBJECTIVES: To examine relationships in mindfulness and illness acceptance and psychosocial functioning in patients with metastatic breast cancer and their family caregivers. SAMPLE & SETTING: 33 dyads from an academic cancer center in the United States. METHODS & VARIABLES: Participants completed questionnaires on mindfulness, illness acceptance, relationship quality, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Dyadic, cross-sectional data were analyzed using actor-partner interdependence models. RESULTS: Greater nonjudging, acting with awareness, and illness acceptance among caregivers were associated with patients' and caregivers' perceptions of better relationship quality. Higher levels of these processes were associated with reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients and caregivers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Aspects of mindfulness and illness acceptance in dyads confer benefits that are primarily intrapersonal in nature. Nurses may consider introducing mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions to patients and caregivers with adjustment difficulties.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Symptom Interference in Advanced Lung Cancer and Caregiver Distress: A Pilot Randomized Trial.

CONTEXT: Advanced lung cancer patients typically have a poor prognosis and many symptoms that interfere with functioning, contributing to high rates of emotional distress in both patients and family caregivers. There remains a need for evidence-based interventions to improve functional outcomes and distress in this population. OBJECTIVES: This pilot trial examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for symptomatic, advanced lung cancer patients and their distressed family caregivers. Primary outcomes were patient symptom interference with functioning and patient and caregiver distress. METHODS: Symptomatic, advanced lung cancer patients and distressed caregivers (n = 50 dyads) were randomly assigned to six sessions of ACT or an education/support condition. Patients completed measures of symptom interference and measures assessing the severity of fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and breathlessness. Patients and caregivers completed measures of distress and illness acceptance and struggle. RESULTS: The eligibility screening rate (51%) and retention rate (76% at six weeks postintervention) demonstrated feasibility. No group differences were found with respect to patient and caregiver outcomes. Both groups showed a small, significant decrease in struggle with the illness over the study period, but did not show meaningful change in other outcomes. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that telephone-based ACT is feasible for many advanced lung cancer patients and caregivers, but may not substantially reduce symptom interference and distress. Low baseline levels of certain symptoms may have contributed to null findings. Next steps include applying ACT to specific, clinically meaningful symptom interference and varying intervention dose and modality.

The relationship between acceptance of cancer and distress: A meta-analytic review.

Acceptance of cancer has long been recognized as playing a critical role in psychological adjustment to the illness, but its associations with distress outcomes have not been quantitatively reviewed. Informed by coping theory and third wave conceptualizations of acceptance, we first propose an integrated model of acceptance of cancer. Then we examine the strength of the relationships between acceptance of cancer and general and cancer-specific distress in cancer patients and potential moderators of these relationships. CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and Web of Science databases were searched. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted on 78 records (N = 15,448). Small-to-moderate, negative, and significant relationships were found between acceptance of cancer and general distress (r = -0.31; 95% CI: -0.36 to -0.26, k = 75); cancer-specific distress (r = -0.18; 95% CI: -0.21 to -0.14, k = 13); depressive symptoms (r = -0.25; 95% CI: -0.31 to -0.19, k = 41); and anxiety symptoms (r = -0.22; 95% CI: -0.30 to -0.15, k = 29). Age, marital status, and stage of cancer were identified as significant moderators. Findings suggest that acceptance of cancer may be important to target in interventions to reduce general and cancer-specific distress in cancer patients. Future research should focus on developing multifaceted measures of acceptance and identifying theory-based psychological and social processes that lead to greater acceptance.