TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients [PROTECT]
T2 - A randomised controlled trial
AU - Heckel, Leila
AU - Fennell, Kate M.
AU - Reynolds, John
AU - Boltong, Anna
AU - Botti, Mari
AU - Osborne, Richard H.
AU - Mihalopoulos, Cathrine
AU - Chirgwin, Jacquie
AU - Williams, Melinda
AU - Gaskin, Cadeyrn J.
AU - Ashley, David M.
AU - Livingston, Patricia M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (ID: GNT1044400RM24525). The funding source had no involvement in the design of the study, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data. The source was not involved in the preparation, writing and review of the manuscript or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Author(s).
PY - 2018/1/8
Y1 - 2018/1/8
N2 - Background: Informal caregivers provide extended support to people with cancer but they receive little support from the health care system to assist them in their caring role. The aim of this single-blind, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial was to test the efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden and unmet needs, and improve psychological well-being among cancer caregivers, as well as evaluating the potential impact on patient outcomes. Methods: Cancer patient/caregiver dyads (N = 216) were randomised to a telephone outcall program (n = 108) or attention control group (n = 108). The primary outcome was self-reported caregiver burden. Secondary endpoints included depressive symptoms, unmet needs, self-esteem, self-empowerment, and health literacy. Data were collected at baseline and at both 1 and 6 months post-intervention. An intention to treat analysis was performed. Results: The intervention had no effect on the primary outcome (caregiver burden), but reduced the number of caregiver unmet needs (intervention group baseline, mean = 2.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.91-3.54]; intervention group 1month post intervention, mean = 0.85, 95%CI [0.42-1.44]; control group baseline, mean = 1.30 95%CI [0.80-1.94], control group 1month post intervention, mean = 1.02 95%CI [0.52-1.69]; p = 0.023). For caregivers at risk for depression, the intervention had a significant effect on caregivers' confidence in having sufficient information to manage their health (p = 0.040). No effects were found for patients' depressive symptoms, unmet needs, self-empowerment, and other health literacy domains. Conclusions: While caregiver burden was not reduced, the outcall program was effective in reducing unmet needs in caregivers. Provision of cancer information and support via a telephone service may represent a feasible approach to reducing unmet needs among cancer caregiver populations. Trial registration:ACTRN12613000731796 ; prospectively registered on 02/07/2013.
AB - Background: Informal caregivers provide extended support to people with cancer but they receive little support from the health care system to assist them in their caring role. The aim of this single-blind, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial was to test the efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden and unmet needs, and improve psychological well-being among cancer caregivers, as well as evaluating the potential impact on patient outcomes. Methods: Cancer patient/caregiver dyads (N = 216) were randomised to a telephone outcall program (n = 108) or attention control group (n = 108). The primary outcome was self-reported caregiver burden. Secondary endpoints included depressive symptoms, unmet needs, self-esteem, self-empowerment, and health literacy. Data were collected at baseline and at both 1 and 6 months post-intervention. An intention to treat analysis was performed. Results: The intervention had no effect on the primary outcome (caregiver burden), but reduced the number of caregiver unmet needs (intervention group baseline, mean = 2.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.91-3.54]; intervention group 1month post intervention, mean = 0.85, 95%CI [0.42-1.44]; control group baseline, mean = 1.30 95%CI [0.80-1.94], control group 1month post intervention, mean = 1.02 95%CI [0.52-1.69]; p = 0.023). For caregivers at risk for depression, the intervention had a significant effect on caregivers' confidence in having sufficient information to manage their health (p = 0.040). No effects were found for patients' depressive symptoms, unmet needs, self-empowerment, and other health literacy domains. Conclusions: While caregiver burden was not reduced, the outcall program was effective in reducing unmet needs in caregivers. Provision of cancer information and support via a telephone service may represent a feasible approach to reducing unmet needs among cancer caregiver populations. Trial registration:ACTRN12613000731796 ; prospectively registered on 02/07/2013.
KW - Cancer
KW - Caregiver burden
KW - Caregivers
KW - Depression
KW - Health literacy
KW - Helpline
KW - RCT
KW - Support
KW - Telephone intervention
KW - Unmet needs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040319741&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12885-017-3961-6
DO - 10.1186/s12885-017-3961-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 29310613
AN - SCOPUS:85040319741
VL - 18
JO - BMC Cancer
JF - BMC Cancer
SN - 1471-2407
IS - 1
M1 - 59
ER -