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Predicting distress among people who care for patients living longer with high-grade malignant glioma

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Abstract

Purpose

Caregivers of patients living longer with high-grade malignant glioma (HGG) have the unique challenge of caring for a person who may have cognitive impairment, along with cancer-related issues over a prolonged period of time. This study aims to detail the psychosocial profile of long-term caregivers, to describe their perceptions of the patient’s quality of life and to examine predictors of their psychological distress.

Methods

Sixty-nine caregivers (48 %) of eligible patients with HGG surviving over 2 years were recruited from two Australian metropolitan tertiary hospitals. Caregivers completed cross-sectional measures of psychological distress (GHQ-12), caregiver impact (FACQ-PC) and patient functional well-being (FACT-Br TOI). Correlational analyses identified factors related to caregiver psychological distress. Those of significance (p ≤ .01) were examined using multiple regression models to determine their predictive value.

Results

Caregivers were mostly female (73 %), spouses (67 %), cohabiting (78 %) and were caring for patients surviving a median of 5.9 years since diagnosis. Whilst caregivers overall reported minimal psychological distress, 28 % endorsed moderate to severe psychological distress, warranting clinical attention. Caregiver strain and low patient functional well-being both significantly predicted caregiver psychological distress (adjusted R 2 = .35, F(4, 60) = 17.7, p < .001), accounting for a moderate amount (35 %) of variance. Other typical factors such as duration of caregiving, performance status, symptom burden and disease or demographic related factors were not predictive.

Conclusions

Psychological distress affects a significant proportion of caregivers of patients living longer with HGG. The presence of caregiver strain and low patient functional well-being are the most important predictors of psychological distress among this cohort of caregivers.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Jeremy Ruben and Ms. Robin Smith (William Buckland Radiotherapy Oncology Service)

Conflict of interests

The authors have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Palliative Care, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, 6 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

    B. Russell, A. Collins & J. Philip

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

    A. Dowling

  3. William Buckland Radiation Oncology Service, The Alfred Hospital, 55 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia

    M. Dally

  4. Department of Palliative Care, The Alfred Hospital, 55 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia

    M. Gold

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

    M. Murphy

  6. Department of Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

    J. Burchell

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Correspondence to B. Russell.

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Russell, B., Collins, A., Dowling, A. et al. Predicting distress among people who care for patients living longer with high-grade malignant glioma. Support Care Cancer 24, 43–51 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2739-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2739-0

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