Carer preparedness improved by providing a supportive educational intervention for carers of patients with high-grade glioma: RCT results.
J Neurooncol
; 161(3): 501-513, 2023 Feb.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36658381
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
High-grade glioma (HGG) is a rapidly progressing and debilitating disease. Family carers take on multiple responsibilities and experience high levels of distress. We aimed to deliver a nurse-led intervention (Care-IS) to carers to improve their preparedness to care and reduce distress.METHODS:
We conducted a randomised controlled trial (ACTRN12612001147875). Carers of HGG patients were recruited during patients' combined chemoradiation treatment. The complex intervention comprised four components (1) initial telephone assessment of carer unmet needs; (2) tailored hard-copy resource folder; (3) home visit; and, (4) monthly telephone support for up to 12 months. Primary outcomes included preparedness for caregiving and distress at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months. Intervention effects were estimated using linear mixed models which included a time by group interaction. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression, quality of life, carer competence and strain.RESULTS:
We randomised 188 carers (n = 98 intervention, n = 90 control). The intervention group reported significantly higher preparedness for caregiving at 4 months (model ß = 2.85, 95% CI 0.76-4.93) and all follow-up timepoints including 12 months (model ß = 4.35, 95% CI 2.08-6.62), compared to the control group. However, there was no difference between groups in carer distress or any secondary outcomes.CONCLUSIONS:
This intervention was effective in improving carer preparedness. However, carer distress was not reduced, potentially due to the debilitating/progressive nature of HGG and ongoing caring responsibilities. Future research must explore whether carer interventions can improve carer adjustment, self-efficacy and coping and how we support carers after bereavement. Additionally, research is needed to determine how to implement carer support into practice.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Caregivers
/
Glioma
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
Aspects:
Patient_preference
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Neurooncol
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia