title: Informal caregiving burden in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: the HABIT study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study's aim was to assess economic data regarding the home assistance burden for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred four NSCLC patients in second-line chemotherapy (2LC) or in supportive therapy (ST) were enrolled in 18 Italian oncology departments and were observed for 3 months. The main caregiver's workload was assessed monthly by a task scale; other caregivers' activities were also registered. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was assessed by physicians, and patients completed the Lung Cancer Symptoms (LCS) subscale. Formal caregiving time was valued according to market prices; informal caregiving hours were valued using the wage rate for an equivalent service. Covariance analysis was performed to check for influential factors in assistance costs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the total sample was 65.5 years, and prevalence of males was over 80%. In over 70% of cases, the principal caregiver was patient's spouse, living with the patient and not working. Principal caregiver support was the main cost item: 2.368 euros in 2LC and 2.805 euros in ST, representing 74% of total trimonthly assistance costs. Regression analysis showed a positive correlation between the severity of symptoms and the costs of assistance. The caregiving burden was higher in patients with bone and/or cerebral metastases; other metastasis sites seemed to have no impact on assistance costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering quality of life as the ultimate health outcome, clinicians are challenged to contribute to a research and policy agenda that holds burden of care in due consideration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, S.G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino, Italy. cgridelli@libero.it
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gridelli
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerriero
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavese
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Satta
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bajetta
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cortinovis
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gebbia
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novello
authors.forename: Editta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.forename: Giampietro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasparini
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Latino
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Durante
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giustini
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Negrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents