Quality of life and health status of dyads of women with lung cancer and family members.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and compare the quality of life (QOL) and health status of dyads of women with lung cancer and their family members and to explore the correlates of family members' QOL.


METHODS
Descriptive, cross-sectional.


METHODS
Interview, self-report.


METHODS
51 dyads consisting of women with lung cancer and their family members.


METHODS
One-time assessment of family members' and patients' QOL, health status, and demographics and patients' clinical characteristics.


METHODS
Family and patient QOL and health status.


RESULTS
QOL of the dyads was not significantly related. Poorer physical QOL of family members was associated with older age, comorbid conditions, less education, and alcohol use. Poorer emotional QOL of family members was associated with younger age, depressed mood, and not being a spouse. Fifty-nine percent of family members had comorbid conditions. Significantly more family members continued to smoke and use alcohol.


CONCLUSIONS
The QOL of family members of patients with lung cancer is diminished when their own health status is compromised. Further study is needed.


CONCLUSIONS
Additional study is needed to identify family members at risk for diminished QOL and with compromised health status because these factors might affect ability to support patients with lung cancer.
Sarna
Linda
L
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. lsarna@ucla.edu
Cooley
Mary E
ME
Brown
Jean K
JK
Williams
Roma D
RD
Chernecky
Cynthia
C
Padilla
Geraldine
G
Danao
Leda Layo
LL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011788:Quality of Life; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology