A review of family caregiving intervention trials in oncology
Open accessAbstract
This article contains a review of literature published from 2010 to 2016 on family caregiving in oncology. An analysis of 810 citations resulted in 50 randomized trials. These trials describe the need to prepare family caregivers for the complex role they play in cancer care. Several studies have demonstrated improved quality of life for family caregivers and improved emotional support from interventions. Several studies addressed communication and relational intimacy, which are key concerns. An additional focus of these trials was in the area of caregiving tasks and ways to diminish the burden of caregiving and preparedness for this role. Further research is needed in this area given the shift to outpatient care and as family caregivers become the primary providers of care. Future research should include expanding tested models of family caregiver support in clinical practice and in diverse populations. CA Cancer J Clin 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:318–325. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
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Barriers such as geographic isolation, socioeconomic disadvantage, limited broadband access, and systemic inequities in access to palliative and psychosocial care can contribute to unmet needs for information, skills training, and emotional support.
“Barriers such as geographic isolation, socioeconomic disadvantage, limited broadband access, and systemic inequities in access to palliative and psychosocial care can contribute to unmet needs for information, skills training, and emotional support.6,7,8,9,10”
From Palliative Care Coaching for Family Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Cancer (2026) · cites this paper as [9]
The Background (page unavailable) identifies distance caregivers and says socioeconomic disadvantage brings transportation costs and other caregiving challenges. The Discussion (page unavailable) describes caregivers’ needs for skills and informational interventions and resources for emotional support. Our copy does not link those needs to limited broadband or systemic inequities in access to palliative and psychosocial care, and it does not establish the full causal chain claimed. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredContemporary trends favor self-directed technologies (e.g., mobile applications) compared with in-person or clinic-based approaches.
“with contemporary trends favoring self‐directed technologies (e.g., mobile applications) compared with in‐person or clinic‐based approaches, 20”
From Nonpharmacologic interventions for managing distress, anxiety, and depression for patients with cancer and their family caregivers: A systematic review and meta‐analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
The Discussion (page not available in our copy) reports increased attention to home-based caregiver interventions and says self-directed technology is on the rise compared with earlier reliance on face-to-face clinical visits. It does not identify mobile applications as an example or say self-directed technologies are favored over other formats; telephone contact was the most prevalent format. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSystematic reviews and meta-analyses have indicated that structured psychosocial interventions, such as counselling, psychotherapy, and stress management, could effectively reduce family caregiver burden, alleviate depression, and improve quality of life.
“systematic reviews and meta-analyses have indicated that structured psychosocial interventions, such as counselling, psychotherapy, and stress management, could effectively reduce family caregiver burden, alleviate depression, and improve quality of life.”
From The burdens, coping strategies, and unmet needs of family caregivers of Chinese patients with lymphoma receiving commercial CAR-T-cell therapy: A qualitative study (2026) · cites this paper as [74]
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredNonpharmacologic interventions have been tested for distress, anxiety, and depression in patients with cancer and their caregivers.
“Nonpharmacologic interventions (NPIs) have been tested for distress, anxiety, and depression in patients with cancer and their caregivers. 9 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25”
African American and rural caregivers have historically had limited access to formal resources and supportive services.
“In addition, African American and rural caregivers have historically had limited access to formal resources and supportive services.”
From Palliative Care Coaching for Family Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Cancer (2026) · cites this paper as [9]
The Background says socioeconomically disadvantaged families face transportation costs and less available family support, while the Discussion says intervention studies have largely focused on white caregivers. Neither passage establishes that African American or rural caregivers have historically had limited access to formal resources or supportive services. Searches for those groups and service access found no passage addressing that claim. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Caregivers of cancer surgery patients experience significant distress and deterioration in their overall well-being.
“Caregivers, including family and friends, endure significant distress as they witness their care recipient struggle with a cancer diagnosis and the decision to undergo surgery [8, 9].”
From Pilot study of a telehealth perioperative physical activity intervention for older adults with cancer and their caregivers (2020) · cites this paper as [9]
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References 81 · Cited by 256
- Authors
- Ferrell, B., & Wittenberg, E.
- Affiliations
- City Of Hope National Medical Center (US)
- Associate Professor, Division of Nursing Research and Education City of Hope National Medical Center Duarte CA.
- Corresponding author
- Ferrell, Betty
- ORCID
- Ferrell, Betty
- Venue
- CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-03-20
- Volume
- 67
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 318-325
- ISSN
- 0007-9235 (ISSN-L)
- 1542-4863
- OpenAlex
- W2599885042
- Cited by
- 256
- References
- 81
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 4.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- CA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- International Business Machines Corporation
- City of Hope
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
- Keywords
- family caregiving, cancer caregivers, caregiver interventions, caregiver burden, caregiver quality of life, emotional support, caregiver communication, relationship intimacy, caregiver preparedness, outpatient oncology
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Humans, Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Research Design, Social Support, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Caregivers
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