Unique characteristics of informal hospice cancer caregiving
Open accessAbstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the unique characteristics of informal hospice cancer caregiving.Methods Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of data drawn from a randomized clinical trial of an informal hospice caregiving intervention (N = 348). Demographic characteristics and measures of the informal caregiving experience of hospice patients and their informal caregivers were compared based on the patient's diagnosis using chi-square tests for association of categorical variables and t tests for continuous variables.Results Informal caregivers of cancer patients differed from their non-cancer counterparts in a number of respects including patient age, caregiver age, patient residence, relationship between patient and caregiver, amount and duration of care provided, likelihood to incur out-of-pocket expenses related to patient care, caregiver problem-solving style, and impact on caregiver daily schedule. There were no statistically significant differences between cancer and non-cancer caregivers in terms of gender, race, employment status, anxiety, and quality of life.Conclusions While cancer and non-cancer caregivers are similar in many respects, a number of unique features characterize the informal hospice cancer caregiving experience. Attention to these unique features will allow hospice providers to tailor supportive care interventions to better address cancer caregivers' needs.
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The prevalence of depression in cancer caregivers is about 30%.
“The prevalence of depression in cancer caregivers is about 30% [2]”
From Third-wave cognitive behavioral therapies for caregivers of cancer patients: a scoping review. (2023) · cites this paper as [2]
The Results section compares cancer and non-cancer caregivers on anxiety and quality of life, but does not report depression prevalence. Searches for depression, depressive symptoms, and 30% found no passage in our copy supporting the estimate. (LLM, conf=0.75)
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- Authors
- Washington, K. T., Pike, K. C., Demiris, G., & Oliver, D. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Missouri (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Corresponding author
- Washington, Karla T.
- Venue
- Supportive Care in Cancer
- Published
- 2014-12-30
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 2121-2128
- ISSN
- 0941-4355 (ISSN-L)
- 1433-7339
- PMC
- PMC4449794
- OpenAlex
- W2080592359
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 3.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Supportive Care in Cancer (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Nursing Research (R01NR012213)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Keywords
- informal care, hospice care, cancer caregiving, caregiver characteristics, caregiver burden, caregiver-patient relationship, supportive care interventions
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Health Expenditures, Female, Hospices, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Social Support, United States, Caregivers, Hospice Care, Young Adult
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