Older Cancer Caregiver Needs Post Hospital Discharge

Completed

• Conditions: Cancer Caregivers of Older Adults

• Registration Number: NCT02099526
• Lead Sponsor: Duke University

Brief Summary

The goals of the study are to investigate the needs of older (age 60+) caregivers caring for adults with cancer at 1-week and 2 weeks following hospital discharge and to explore strategies that may assist caregivers in their home caregiving needs. This study will explore how these needs vary based on caregiver spirituality and relationship with the care recipient.

The study will enroll cancer patients and their caregivers admitted to 9100 and 9300, which are the hematological and non-hematological malignancy units at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) respectively. Results of this study will lay the groundwork for creating tailored interventions for caregivers that are compatible to their preferences and more responsive to their needs.

Detailed Description

Baseline demographic data about the caregiver and patient will be collected at patient beside prior to hospital discharge. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with the cancer caregivers in their home at 1-week after their loved one was discharged from the hospital, and at 2-weeks after discharge from the hospital. This study utilizes a qualitative descriptive design.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2014-03-26
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-03-26
• Study First Posted: 2014-03-31
• Study Start: 2014-06
• Status Verified: 2015-01
• Primary Completion: 2015-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-07-21
• Last Update Posted: 2015-07-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 23

Inclusion Criteria

• Caregiver must speak English
• Caregiver must be at least 60 years of age
• Patients must be 18 years of age or older & speak English
• Patients must have been admitted to either the 9100 or 9300 oncology unit for treatment of cancer, or treatment-related/cancer-related complications
• Patients must be discharged home to participate in the study

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Exclusion Criteria

• Dyads who received hospice referral prior to the care recipient's discharge
• Patient must not have any diagnosis of dementia in their medical records, or any cognitive impairment as assessed by hospital providers (physicians and nurses)

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Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Unmet cancer caregiver needs	1 week after patient discharge from hospital	Explore the needs (e.g., psychosocial) of older adults caring for a loved one with cancer at home during the first and second weeks after hospital discharge, and determine how these needs vary by spirituality and relationship to the care recipient.
Caregiver strategies assisting in caregiving role	1 week after patient discharge from hospital	Identify the strategies used by older caregivers during the first and second weeks after hospital discharge, and determine how these strategies vary by spirituality and relationship to the care recipient.
Caregiver decision making in seeking assistance for cancer patient	1 week after patient discharge from hospital	Describe the preferences of support and assistance (e.g., family/friends) of older caregivers in caring for a loved one with cancer at home during the first and second weeks after hospital discharge, and determine how these preferences vary by spirituality and relationship to the care recipient.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Caregiver needs and preferences vary with time	2 weeks after patient discharge from the hospital	Explore whether caregiver needs and preferences vary with time (1 week versus 2 weeks post hospital discharge).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Duke University Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Durham, North Carolina, United States