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Factors associated with carer psychological and physical health during end-of-life caregiving: an observational analysis of a population-based post-bereavement survey of carers of people with cancer.
Grande, Gunn; Rowland, Christine; Cotterill, Sarah; Batistatou, Evridiki; Hanratty, Barbara.
  • Grande G; Division of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK gunn.grande@manchester.ac.uk.
  • Rowland C; Division of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
  • Cotterill S; Centre for Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
  • Batistatou E; Centre for Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
  • Hanratty B; Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
BMJ Open ; 11(10): e047275, 2021 10 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1504015
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

Family caregivers play an essential role in end-of-life care but suffer considerable impact on their own health. A better understanding of main factors related to carers' health is important to inform interventions. The purpose of the study was to test for the first time the potential impact of a comprehensive set of observable variables on carer health during end-of-life caregiving within a population-based carer sample.

DESIGN:

National retrospective, cross-sectional, 4-month post-bereavement postal census survey of family carers of people who died from cancer. SETTING AND

PARTICIPANTS:

Relatives who registered a death from cancer during a 2-week period in England were identified from death certificates by the Office of National Statistics; response rate was 1504/5271 (28.5%). OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Carers' mental health was measured through General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12; general health was measured through EuroQoL EQ-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-5D VAS).

METHODS:

Survey questions to measure potential variables associated with carer health were based on past research and covered patients' symptoms and functioning; caregiving activities and hours; informal and formal help received; work hours, other caregiving, volunteering; changes to work, income and expenditure; sleep and relaxation; and demographic variables. Bivariate analyses and ordinary least square regression were performed to investigate these variables' relationship with outcomes.

RESULTS:

Patients' psychological symptoms and functioning, caregiving hours, female gender and self-sought formal help related to worse mental health. General practitioner and social care input and relaxation related to better mental health. Patients' psychological symptoms, caregiving hours and female gender were associated with worse general health, and older age, employment and relaxation were associated with better general health.

CONCLUSIONS:

Improvements in carers' health overall may be made by focusing on potential impacts of patients' psychological symptoms on carers, facilitating respite and relaxation, and paying particular attention to factors affecting female carers.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Bereavement / Neoplasms Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Female / Humans Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2020-047275

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Bereavement / Neoplasms Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Female / Humans Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2020-047275