A Randomized, Controlled Trial of a Patient/Caregiver Symptom Control Intervention: Effects on Depressive Symptomatology of Caregivers of Cancer Patients

In this study, we investigated whether a clinical nursing intervention focusing on teaching family caregivers and their cancer patients skills to better manage the patients' symptoms would reduce caregiver depressive symptomatology. Two hundred thirty-seven patient/caregiver dyads were recruite...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pain and symptom management 2005-08, Vol.30 (2), p.112-122
Main Authors: Kurtz, Margot E., Kurtz, J.C., Given, Charles W., Given, Barbara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
caregiver
Caregivers - education
Caregivers - psychology
depression
Depression - etiology
Depression - nursing
Female
Humans
intervention
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neoplasms - psychology
Original
Patient Education as Topic
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
symptoms
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Summary:In this study, we investigated whether a clinical nursing intervention focusing on teaching family caregivers and their cancer patients skills to better manage the patients' symptoms would reduce caregiver depressive symptomatology. Two hundred thirty-seven patient/caregiver dyads were recruited for the study. These dyads were randomized into either the 10-contact, 20-week experimental intervention group (n = 118), which focused on assisting the patient and caregiver in managing patient symptoms and reducing emotional distress, or to a conventional care control group (n = 119). A longitudinal random effects regression analysis did not indicate that the clinical nursing intervention was effective in decreasing caregiver depression over the 20-week course of the study. The relationship of the intervention to caregiver depressive symptomatology seems to be a complex one. We recommend further research to explore whether a lengthened intervention and/or delayed follow-up might reveal delayed positive effects of such interventions.
ISSN:0885-3924
1873-6513
DOI:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2005.02.008