Cited by 87Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthPalliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesPalliative and Oncologic Care

Prevalence and Predictors of Distress, Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Bereaved Family Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer

Oechsle, Karin, Ullrich, Anneke, Marx, Gabriella, Benze, Gesine, Wowretzko, Feline, Zhang, Youyou, Dickel, Lisa-Marie, Heine, Julia +4 more·2020·American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate prevalence and predictors of postloss distress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and quality of life among bereaved family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: Prospective multicenter study. Family caregivers (N = 160, mean age 56.8 years, 66% female) completed validated outcome measures (Distress Thermometer, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, Patient Health Questionnaire depression module 9-item scale, SF-8 Health Survey Questionnaire) 6 months after patient's discharge or death at specialist inpatient palliative care ward. RESULTS: Clinically relevant distress was observed in 82% with sadness (89%), exhaustion (74%), sleeping problems (68%), loneliness (53%), and sorrows (52%) being the most common distress-causing problems. Moderate/severe anxiety and depressive symptoms were observed in 27% and 35%, respectively. Compared to an adjusted norm sample, quality of life was significantly impaired with exception of "bodily pain" and physical component score. Preloss caregiving (odds ratio [OR] 2.195) and higher preloss distress (OR 1.345) predicted high postloss distress. Utilization of psychosocial support services (OR 2.936) and higher preloss anxiety symptoms (OR 1.292) predicted moderate/severe anxiety symptoms, lower preloss physical quality of life (OR 0.952), and higher preloss depressive symptoms (OR 1.115) predicted moderate/severe depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Preloss mental burden showed to be a consistent predictor for postloss burden and should be addressed during palliative care. Future research should examine specific caregiver-directed interventions during specialist palliative care.

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Crossref · 10.1177/1049909119872755

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Authors
Oechsle, K., Ullrich, A., Marx, G., Benze, G., Wowretzko, F., Zhang, Y., Dickel, L.-M., Heine, J., Wendt, K. N., Nauck, F., Bokemeyer, C., & Bergelt, C.
Affiliations
  • University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
  • Universitätsmedizin Göttingen (DE)
  • Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
Corresponding author
Oechsle, Karin
Venue
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®
Published
2019-10-09
Volume
37
Issue
3
Pages
201-213
ISSN
  • 1049-9091 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-2715
OpenAlex
W2979427758
Cited by
86
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 6
FWCI
9.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Hamburger Krebsgesellschaft e.V. (none)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • 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
family caregivers, advanced cancer, bereavement, caregiver anxiety, caregiver depression, quality of life, psychosocial support, palliative care, predictors of distress
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Family, Female, Forecasting, Grief, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Prospective Studies, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Prevalence, Caregivers

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