Objective: In this pilot project we examined the quality of
life of spouses of cancer patients who had significant fatigue.
Methods: We assessed both the spouses of cancer patients and
the patients who presented with chemotherapy-induced fatigue and anemia.
Study endpoints included the impact that cancer patients' fatigue had
on their spouses' quality of life, including their own levels of
fatigue, depressive symptoms, activity levels, work absenteeism, and
marital adjustment. We examined the extent to which changes in
patients' fatigue from baseline to one month follow-up were
associated with changes in spouses' quality of life indices.
Results: 25 couples completed the study. Seven (28%) spousal
caregivers reported handling fewer responsibilities at work, 8 (32%) had
reduced their work hours, and 8 (32%) felt that they were less effective
overall at work. Spousal caregivers also missed a significant amount of
time at work during the month long study, missing an average of 2.7
(SD = 2.95) days, with an additional 1.29 (SD = 2.97)
sick days and 1.76 (SD = 2.63) vacation days during that time.
Spouses reporting greater levels of caregiver strain were more likely to
have increased fatigue at baseline (F1,23 = 8.11,
p < .01), and worse dyadic adjustment at both time points
(baseline: F1,23 = 7.80, p < .01;
follow-up: F1,21 = 9.24, p < .01). Also,
those with more caregiver strain were less likely to engage in social
activity at baseline (F1,23 = 6.11, p <
.05) and more likely to engage in less work by the one month follow-up
(F1,20 = 8.36, p < .01).
Significance of results: Spouses who were identified as
having elevated burden experienced more personal fatigue, had worse dyadic
adjustment, reported poor energy levels, and tended to engage in fewer
work and social activities; the impact of patient's fatigue level on
these parameters was highly variable in this small pilot study.
