Effectiveness of palliative care consultation service on caregiver burden over time between terminally ill cancer and non-cancer family caregivers

Li-Fen Wu, Chin Lin, Yu-Chun Hung, Li-Fang Chang, Ching-Liang Ho, Hsueh-Hsing Pan

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8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: The responsibility of taking care of terminal patients is accepted as a role of family members in Taiwan. Only a few studies have focused on the effect of palliative care consultation service (PCCS) on caregiver burden between terminal cancer family caregivers (CFCs) and non-cancer family caregivers (NCFCs). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to address the effect of PCCS on caregiver burden between CFC and NCFC over time.

METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in a medical center in northern Taiwan from July to November 2017. The participants were both terminally ill cancer and non-cancer patients who were prepared to receive PCCS, as well as their family caregivers. Characteristics including family caregivers and terminal patients and Family Caregiver Burden Scale (FCBS) were recorded pre-, 7, and 14 days following PCCS. A generalized estimating equation model was used to analyze the change in the level of family caregiver burden (FCB) between CFC and NCFC.

RESULTS: The study revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in FCB between CFC and NCFC 7 days and 14 days after PCCS (p > 0.05). However, FCB significantly decreased in both CFC and NCFC from pre-PCCS to 14 days after PCCS (β = - 12.67, p = 0.013). PPI of patients was the key predictor of FCB over time following PCCS (β = 1.14, p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that PCCS can improve FCB in not only CFC but also NCFC. We suggest that PCCS should be used more widely in supporting family caregivers of terminally ill patients to reduce caregiver burden.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6045-6055
Number of pages11
JournalSupportive Care in Cancer
Volume28
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Caregiver Burden/epidemiology
  • Caregivers/organization & administration
  • Family/psychology
  • Female
  • Health Services/standards
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms/epidemiology
  • Palliative Care/organization & administration
  • Program Evaluation
  • Prospective Studies
  • Referral and Consultation/organization & administration
  • Taiwan/epidemiology
  • Terminally Ill/psychology
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult

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