title: Predictors of employment and lost hours from work in cancer caregivers.
abstract: This cross-sectional, descriptive study identified variables associated with caregivers who (1) were employed and (2) reported lost hours from work due to care demands. Family caregivers (N=80) of persons with a primary malignant brain tumor participated in a 45-60 min telephone interview, answering questions regarding the impact of providing care on their emotional health and employment status. Younger caregivers were more likely to be employed. Caregivers were more likely to report lost hours from work when care recipients required assistance with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) and were closer to the time of diagnosis. Data suggest that interventions to assist caregivers in maintaining employment should target caregivers of persons with limitations in physical function and should include strategies to coordinate care to assist with IADLs.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 336 Victoria Building, 3500 Victoria Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. prs11@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Paula R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Sherwood
authors.forename: Heidi S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Given
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Given
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hricik
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017407:Family Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States