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Caregivers’ differing needs across key experiences of the advanced cancer disease trajectory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2008

Lori L. DuBenske ,
Kuang-Yi Wen ,
David H. Gustafson ,
Charles A. Guarnaccia ,
James F. Cleary ,
Susan K. Dinauer  and
Fiona M. Mctavish
Lori L. DuBenske*
Affiliation:
Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Kuang-Yi Wen
Affiliation:
Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
David H. Gustafson
Affiliation:
Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Charles A. Guarnaccia
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
James F. Cleary
Affiliation:
Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
Susan K. Dinauer
Affiliation:
Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Fiona M. Mctavish
Affiliation:
Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Lori DuBenske, 1513 University Avenue, ME 4105, Madison, WI 53706. E-mail: lori.dubenske@chess.wisc.edu
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Abstract

Objectives:

Familial caregivers are providing increasing amounts of care to advanced cancer patients. Increased understanding of caregivers’ needs is vital in providing necessary support to lessen caregiver burden and morbidity. Current literature has identified caregiver and patient needs at broad stages of the cancer trajectory; however, such broad stages may be too general to inform a practice of targeting specific interventions when they have the greatest utility. This study examines a variety of particular needs across a number of more discrete illness-related transition experiences specifically in the advanced cancer disease trajectory.

Methods:

One hundred fifty-nine female informal caregivers of people with advanced cancer completed a needs assessment survey.

Results:

Analyses of these cross-sectional retrospective-report data reveal that cancer caregiver needs vary across specific key experiences occurring within the broader stages of illness identified by current literature. Furthermore, caregivers have unique needs during bereavement.

Significance of results:

Although the sample characteristics are demographically limited, this study provides preliminary evidence that the broad stages are not specific enough increments for effectively examining caregiver needs and supports the need for more precise distribution of cancer-related information at more discrete times in the illness course.

Keywords

Caregiver needsEnd of lifeCancerPalliative careBereavement
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , September 2008 , pp. 265 - 272
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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