ABSTRACT
This study assessed psychological morbidity and resilience, including the subjective burden of 76 caregivers of elderly cancer survivors utilizing a cross-sectional questionnaire. Participants were mainly elderly female spouses, sole-caregiving > 35 hours per week; 19.1% and 23.6% reported moderate or greater anxiety and depression, respectively. A significant regression model found depression, emotion-focused coping, and greater years since diagnosis as significant predictors of subjective caregiver burden. Thus, caregiving appears a dominant role for this group and the Brief Assessment Scale for Caregivers of the Medically Ill (BASC) appears to be an efficient screening tool for psychological morbidity in this under-supported group.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/epidemiology , Caregivers/psychology , Cost of Illness , Depression/epidemiology , Neoplasms/psychology , Resilience, Psychological , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Australia/epidemiology , Caregivers/statistics & numerical data , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/therapy , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Risk , Survivors/psychology , Survivors/statistics & numerical data , Time FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of an 8-week structured mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program on individuals experiencing distress as a consequence of cancer. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective study of 16 participants with a history of cancer and five carers of people with cancer recruited from August 2008 to February 2009 through calls to the Cancer Council South Australia Helpline. Participants were assessed for anxiety and depression before and after undergoing a course in MBCT between 30 September and 18 November 2008 and 20 February and 10 April 2009. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Depression, anxiety and mindfulness as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI), respectively, and a consumer-centred evaluation. RESULTS: There were significant reductions in depression (F[1,24] = 6.37; P = 0.012; partial-eta2 = 0.27) and anxiety (F[2,34] = 9.43; P = 0.001, partial-eta2 = 0.36) and mindfulness (F[2,32] = 8.36; P = 0.001; partial-eta2 = 0.34) following the intervention, and these effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up. Reliable change indices further support these findings. Participants' scores on measures of depression and anxiety decreased as a function of increased mindfulness, as reflected by significant (P < 0.05) negative correlations between FMI scores and BDI-II scores (ranging from r = -0.46 to r = -0.79) and STAI scores (ranging from r = -0.46 to r = -0.50) scores at all time points. CONCLUSION: The MBCT program appears to be an efficacious intervention for use among people affected by cancer who also experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/therapy , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Depression/therapy , Neoplasms/psychology , Psychotherapy, Group/methods , Quality of Life/psychology , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Anxiety/epidemiology , Anxiety/psychology , Causality , Cognition , Comorbidity , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/psychology , Humans , Male , Meditation , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Severity of Illness Index , Social Support , South Australia/epidemiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
ISSUE ADDRESSED: This study investigated trends in sun protection policy and practice of Australian primary schools between 1998 and 2005 and the impact of the National SunSmart Schools Program. METHODS: Between September and November 2005, primary schools from all states and territories in Australia were surveyed on their sun protection policy and practice. Data were compared to 1998 and 2001 data and analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. RESULTS: There has been an increase in the proportion of schools with written sun protection policy to 80%, although some aspects of policy were less likely to be included in 2005 than in 2001. Trends in sun protection practice were varied with a significant increase in hat wearing (to 85%) and a significant decrease in sunscreen use. SunSmart schools were found to have a higher level of policy (95% CF 65%, p<0.001) and practice than non-SunSmart schools. Including specific aspects of sun protection in written policy were linked significantly to the corresponding practice for all aspects of sun protection except shade adequacy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need to continue encouraging the development of comprehensive written sun protection policies in primary schools and advocate for continued support for primary school sun protection activities.
