Predicting family caregiver psychosocial functioning in palliative care.
BACKGROUND
Health professionals are expected to support family caregivers of patients requiring palliative care. However, there is a dearth of empirical evidence to help clinicians identify caregivers who might be at risk of poor psychosocial functioning.


OBJECTIVE
This secondary analysis of baseline data from a larger study sought to determine if it was possible to predict the psychosocial functioning of family caregivers who were supporting a relative with advanced incurable cancer.


METHODS
Data from 35 primary family caregivers obtained at the start of home-based palliative care services and five weeks later was used in the analysis. Instruments to measure caregiver preparedness, competence, mastery, social support, anxiety, and self-efficacy were used.


RESULTS
Cluster and logistic analyses revealed that self-reported "anxiety" and "competence" subscale total scores at time of commencement of home-based palliative care services were associated with caregivers at risk of lower levels of psychosocial functioning five weeks later.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that it may be possible to identify family caregivers who are at risk for poorer psychosocial functioning. However, replication in a larger sample is required before this screening approach can be recommended for clinical use.
Hudson
Peter L
PL
Centre for Palliative Care, St. Vincent's Health and University of Australia, Melbourne, Australia.
Hayman-White
Karla
K
Aranda
Sanchia
S
Kristjanson
Linda J
LJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014739:Victoria