Efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients [PROTECT]: a randomised controlled trial
Abstract 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 outc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Cancer |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-017-3961-6 |
| _version_ | 1811309762772467712 |
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| author | Leila Heckel Kate M. Fennell John Reynolds Anna Boltong Mari Botti Richard H. Osborne Cathrine Mihalopoulos Jacquie Chirgwin Melinda Williams Cadeyrn J. Gaskin David M. Ashley Patricia M. Livingston |
| author_facet | Leila Heckel Kate M. Fennell John Reynolds Anna Boltong Mari Botti Richard H. Osborne Cathrine Mihalopoulos Jacquie Chirgwin Melinda Williams Cadeyrn J. Gaskin David M. Ashley Patricia M. Livingston |
| author_sort | Leila Heckel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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 1 month 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 1 month 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:46:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb4ac42a661748958b58ad435ee7f096 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2407 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:46:50Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cancer |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb4ac42a661748958b58ad435ee7f0962022-12-22T02:51:43ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072018-01-0118111310.1186/s12885-017-3961-6Efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients [PROTECT]: a randomised controlled trialLeila Heckel0Kate M. Fennell1John Reynolds2Anna Boltong3Mari Botti4Richard H. Osborne5Cathrine Mihalopoulos6Jacquie Chirgwin7Melinda Williams8Cadeyrn J. Gaskin9David M. Ashley10Patricia M. Livingston11Deakin University, Faculty of Health, School of Nursing and MidwiferyCancer Council SAMonash University, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health SciencesCancer Council VictoriaDeakin University, Faculty of Health, School of Nursing and MidwiferyDeakin University, Faculty of Health, School of Health and Social DevelopmentDeakin University, Faculty of Health, School of Health and Social DevelopmentEastern Health, Department of OncologyBarwon South Western Regional Integrated Cancer ServiceDeakin University, Faculty of Health, Biostatistics UnitDeakin University, Faculty of Health, School of Nursing and MidwiferyDeakin University, Faculty of Health, School of Nursing and MidwiferyAbstract 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 1 month 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 1 month 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.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-017-3961-6Telephone interventionCaregiversCancerRCTCaregiver burdenUnmet needs |
| spellingShingle | Leila Heckel Kate M. Fennell John Reynolds Anna Boltong Mari Botti Richard H. Osborne Cathrine Mihalopoulos Jacquie Chirgwin Melinda Williams Cadeyrn J. Gaskin David M. Ashley Patricia M. Livingston Efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients [PROTECT]: a randomised controlled trial BMC Cancer Telephone intervention Caregivers Cancer RCT Caregiver burden Unmet needs |
| title | Efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients [PROTECT]: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_full | Efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients [PROTECT]: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients [PROTECT]: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients [PROTECT]: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_short | Efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients [PROTECT]: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_sort | efficacy of a telephone outcall program to reduce caregiver burden among caregivers of cancer patients protect a randomised controlled trial |
| topic | Telephone intervention Caregivers Cancer RCT Caregiver burden Unmet needs |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-017-3961-6 |
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