Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-01-2017 | Short report

Evaluation of a brief pilot psychoeducational support group intervention for family caregivers of cancer patients: a quasi-experimental mixed-methods study

Authors: Rathi Mahendran, Haikel A. Lim, Joyce Y. S. Tan, Hui Ying Ng, Joanne Chua, Siew Eng Lim, Ee Heok Kua, Konstadina Griva

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Background

Family caregivers of cancer patients often experience an impaired quality of life (QOL) and emotional distress as a result of their caregiving duties, which may potentially influence the quality of care of their care recipients. The COPE (Caregivers of cancer Outpatients’ Psycho-Education support group therapy) intervention was developed as a response to the lack of work done among family caregivers of ambulatory cancer patients in Asia. This group intervention comprised four weekly sessions simultaneously targeting psychoeducation, skills training, and supportive therapy. The present study sought to evaluate the pilot COPE intervention using both quantitative and qualitative measures. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to measure both depression and anxiety, while the Caregiver QOL – Cancer (CQOLC) measured caregiver QOL. These instruments were measured at baseline pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention. A waitlist control group design was adopted. A subset of caregivers from the intervention group were invited for a semi-structured interview post-intervention.

Findings

Quantitative analyses suggest that while QOL remained stable in control group participants, intervention group participants experienced QOL improvements – both in overall QOL and in the specific domain of burden. There were no significant differences in the trajectories of depression and anxiety in both groups. Qualitative analyses suggest that this might have been a result of the intervention not only equipping participants with the relevant coping skills, but also providing a platform for emotional expression and situational reappraisal.

Conclusions

The COPE intervention has shown some efficacy in helping family caregivers of cancer patients, but more work is required before this can be implemented.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials NCT02120183. Registered 17 April 2014. Retrospectively registered.

Romito F, Goldzweig G, Cormio C, Hagedoorn M, Andersen BL. Informal caregiving for cancer patients. Cancer. 2013;119:2160–9.CrossRefPubMed

Dumont S, Turgeon J, Allard P, Gagnon P, Charbonneau C, Vézina L. Caring for a loved one with advanced cancer: determinants of psychological distress in family caregivers. J Palliat Med. 2006;9:912–21.CrossRefPubMed

Northouse L, Williams A-l, Given B, McCorkle R. Psychosocial care for family caregivers of patients with cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012;30:1227–34.CrossRefPubMed

Northouse LL, Katapodi MC, Song L, Zhang L, Mood DW. Interventions with family caregivers of cancer patients: meta-analysis of randomized trials. CA Cancer J Clin. 2010;60:317–39.

Waldron EA, Janke EA, Bechtel CF, Ramirez M, Cohen A. A systematic review of psychosocial interventions to improve cancer caregiver quality of life. Psychooncology. 2013;22:1200–7.CrossRefPubMed

Santin O, Prue G, Coleman H, Cardwell C, O’Halloran P, Donnelly M. Psychosocial interventions for informal caregivers of people living with cancer. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2015;24 Suppl 1:77–8.

Feng L, Cao Y, Zhang Y, Wee ST, Kua EH. Psychological therapy with Chinese patients. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry. 2011;3:167–72.CrossRef

Kua EH, Goh LG, Cheong PY, Wee ST. Brief integrative psychological therapy. In Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Conference on Ageing. Singapore, Singapore; 2011:24–26.

Mahendran R, Lim HA, Chua J, Peh CX, Lim SE, Kua EH. The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) in Singapore: A new preliminary factor structure for caregivers of ambulatory patients with cancer. Qual Life Res. 2015;24:399–404.CrossRefPubMed

10.

Mahendran R, Tan JYS, Griva K, Lim HA, Ng HY, Chua J, Lim SE, Kua EH. A pilot, quasi-experimental, mixed methods investigation into the efficacy of a group psychotherapy intervention for caregivers of outpatients with cancer: the COPE study protocol. BMJ Open. 2015;5:e008527.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

11.

Mahendran R, Ng HY, Chua J, Tan JYS, Lim HA, Griva K, Lim SE, Kua EH. A mixed-methods investigation into the efficacy of a psycho-educational support group therapy for family caregivers of cancer patients: The COPE study overview. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2014;43:S45–6.

12.

Weitzner MA, McMillan SC. The caregiver quality of life index-cancer (CQOLC) scale: Revalidation in a home hospice setting. J Palliat Care. 1999;15:13–20.PubMed

13.

Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983;67:361–70.CrossRefPubMed

14.

Carpenter JR, Kenward MG. Missing Data in Randomised Controlled Trials–a Practical Guide. London: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; 2007.

15.

Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in Psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3:77–101.CrossRef

16.

Strauss A, Corbin J. Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. London: SAGE Publications Ltd; 1990.

17.

Gottlieb BH, Wachala ED. Cancer support groups: a critical review of empirical studies. Psychooncology. 2007;16:379–400.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Buunk BP, Collins RL, Taylor SE, VanYperen NW, Dakof GA. The affective consequences of social comparison: Either direction has its ups and downs. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1990;59:1238–49.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Kua EH. Focus on psychiatry in Singapore. Br J Psychiatry. 2004;185:79–82.CrossRefPubMed

20.

Chien W-T, Thompson DR, Norman I. Evaluation of a peer-led mutual support group for Chinese families of people with schizophrenia. Am J Community Psychol. 2008;42:122–34.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Evaluation of a brief pilot psychoeducational support group intervention for family caregivers of cancer patients: a quasi-experimental mixed-methods study
Authors: Rathi Mahendran
Haikel A. Lim
Joyce Y. S. Tan
Hui Ying Ng
Joanne Chua
Siew Eng Lim
Ee Heok Kua
Konstadina Griva
Publication date: 01-01-2017
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-017-0595-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Evaluation of a brief pilot psychoeducational support group intervention for family caregivers of cancer patients: a quasi-experimental mixed-methods study

Abstract

Background

Findings

Conclusions

Trial registration

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Findings

Conclusions

Trial registration

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

Correction to: Adaptation of the 2015 American College of Rheumatology treatment guideline for rheumatoid arthritis for the Eastern Mediterranean Region: an exemplar of the GRADE Adolopment

Psychometric validation of a multi-dimensional capability instrument for outcome measurement in mental health research (OxCAP-MH)

Validation of the Spanish version of the Oxford knee score and assessment of its utility to characterize quality of life of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis: a multicentric study

Association of financial status and the quality of life in Chinese women with recurrent ovarian cancer

Validation of the generic medical interview satisfaction scale: the G-MISS questionnaire

Disease activity, resilience and health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a multi-center, cross-sectional study