eprintid: 20142
rev_number: 11
eprint_status: archive
userid: 1589
dir: disk0/00/02/01/42
datestamp: 2016-02-22 13:06:10
lastmod: 2024-04-14 03:25:18
status_changed: 2016-02-22 13:06:10
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Krug, Katja
creators_name: Miksch, Antje
creators_name: Peters-Klimm, Frank
creators_name: Engeser, Peter
creators_name: Szecsenyi, Joachim
title: Correlation between patient quality of life in palliative care and burden of their family caregivers: a prospective observational cohort study
subjects: ddc-610
divisions: i-910100
abstract: Background: Family caregivers play a key role in palliative care at home, and understanding the interdependencies in the constellation of patient, family caregivers and service providers is important. As few longitudinal studies have examined the influence of patient quality of life (QoL) in palliative care on burden of family caregivers, the aim of this study was to identify correlations between changing patient QoL and changing burden of family caregivers that need consideration in patient management.   Methods: Palliative patients with cancer in primary care evaluated their QoL (Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care, QLQ-C15-PAL). They were assessed monthly for an interval of 6 months or until death of the patient. Family caregivers reported the burden they perceived while supporting the patient (Short form of the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, BSFC). Longitudinal data were analysed for all patients with at least 3 available assessments, considering the most recent data for participants with more than 3 assessments. Changes in patient QoL were analysed using the Friedman test. In a stepwise regression analysis, influences of change in patient QoL on changing caregiver burden were investigated.   Results: One hundred patients (63 men, 37 women; average age: 68 years) were enrolled in the study. The most common primary diagnoses were colon, lung or breast cancer. In 58 cases, assessments were available from both patients and caregivers. Patients reported overall quality of life increasing towards end of life, although reporting that physical functioning deteriorated. Symptoms of pain and fatigue bothered patients most. Caregiver burden was moderate and on average did not change over time. In a stepwise regression model, the difference in emotional functioning and the difference in dyspnoea showed an influence on the development of caregiver burden (explained variance of 19.3 %).   Conclusions: Patients’ dyspnoea, feelings of depression and anxiety impacted on the perceived burden of family caregivers, but are manageable symptoms. Our results corroborate the need of regular assessment of patients’ needs taking into account caregiver burden. In this way, general practice teams can intervene early and may more likely meet patients’ needs in the end of life care process. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN78021852, assigned on 04/04/2007
date: 2016
publisher: BioMed Central
id_scheme: DOI
ppn_swb: 1655973665
own_urn: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-heidok-201428
language: eng
bibsort: KRUGKATJACORRELATIO2016
full_text_status: public
publication: BMC Palliative Care
volume: 15
number: 4
place_of_pub: London
pagerange: 1-8
issn: 1472-684X
citation:   Krug, Katja ; Miksch, Antje ; Peters-Klimm, Frank ; Engeser, Peter ; Szecsenyi, Joachim  (2016) Correlation between patient quality of life in palliative care and burden of their family caregivers: a prospective observational cohort study.  BMC Palliative Care, 15 (4).  pp. 1-8.  ISSN 1472-684X     
document_url: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/20142/1/12904_2016_Article_82.pdf