Back to Authors

Jensen, Andrus

A5027815141 | I1330342723

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 1

Quality of Life of Caregivers of Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® | June 15, 2006 | Volume: 23 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 185-191

10.1177/1049909106289074 | PMID 17060277

There has been much research documenting the impact of having a loved one diagnosed with advanced cancer, but little is known about how to reduce care-giver burden. In this randomized controlled trial, the authors examined the potential relationship of an advanced cancer patient’s participation in an 8-session, structured, multidisciplinary intervention on the care-giver’s burden and quality of life (QOL). Although the patients randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 54) demonstrated improved QOL compared to the control condition (n = 49) participants ( P < .05), there was no evidence that improving the patient’s QOL made an impact on the caregiver’s level of burden or the care-giver’s QOL. Further investigation is warranted in this area, including interventions specifically designed and targeted to both reduce caregiver burden and to improve caregiver QOL.