title: Racial variation in the cancer caregiving experience: a multisite study of colorectal and lung cancer caregivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As cancer care shifts from hospital to outpatient settings, the number of cancer caregivers continues to grow. However, little is known about the cancer caregiving experience. This gap in knowledge is especially evident for racially diverse caregivers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study, part of a multisite study of care recipients with either lung or colorectal cancer and their caregivers, examined the caregiving experiences of African American (AA) and white caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers were identified by cancer patients in the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance consortium. Caregivers completed a self-administered, mailed questionnaire that assessed their characteristics and experiences. Analysis of covariance was used to compare racial groups by objective burden and caregiving resources while controlling for covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite greater preparedness for the caregiving role (P = .006), AA caregivers reported more weekly hours caregiving than whites did (26.5 ± 3.1 vs 18.0 ± 1.7; P = .01). In later phases of caregiving, AAs reported having more social support (P = .02), spending more hours caregiving (31.9 ± 3.5 vs 16.9 ± 1.9; P < .001), and performing more instrumental activities of daily living on behalf of their care recipient (P = .021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Racial differences in the caregiving experience exist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses play a key role in educating cancer patients and their caregivers on how to effectively cope with and manage cancer. Because AA caregivers seem to spend more time in the caregiving role and perform more caregiving tasks, AA caregivers may benefit from interventions tailored to their specific caregiving experience.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Ave S, MT 617, Birmingham, AL 35294-1150, USA. mymartin@uab.edu
authors.forename: Michelle Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Oster
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.forename: Audie A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Atienza
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Ryn
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
references.citation: J Clin Nurs. 2009 May;18(10):1379-93
references.pmid: 18624779
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2000 May;55(3):P142-50
references.pmid: 11833976
references.citation: J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2007 Mar-Apr;22(2):122-31
references.pmid: 17414314
references.citation: Gerontologist. 1969 Autumn;9(3):179-86
references.pmid: 5349366
references.citation: Cancer. 2010 Jul 15;116(14):3477-84
references.pmid: 20564103
references.citation: J Clin Oncol. 2004 Aug 1;22(15):2992-6
references.pmid: 15284250
references.citation: Psychooncology. 2006 Jan;15(1):20-30
references.pmid: 15929055
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 1991;32(6):705-14
references.pmid: 2035047
references.citation: Psychooncology. 2010 Apr;19(4):431-40
references.pmid: 19399773
references.citation: J Palliat Med. 2003 Apr;6(2):215-24
references.pmid: 12854938
references.citation: Cancer Control. 2007 Apr;14(2):183-9
references.pmid: 17387304
references.citation: Cancer. 2011 Mar 1;117(5):1070-9
references.pmid: 20960510
references.citation: Health Commun. 2009 Sep;24(6):524-31
references.pmid: 19735030
references.citation: J Health Soc Behav. 1978 Mar;19(1):2-21
references.pmid: 649936
references.citation: Oncol Nurs Forum. 2001 Oct;28(9):1469-74
references.pmid: 11683316
references.citation: J Gerontol Nurs. 2006 Feb;32(2):45-53
references.pmid: 16502761
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005 Sep;60(5):S257-62
references.pmid: 16131626
references.citation: Patient Educ Couns. 2008 Jun;71(3):356-64
references.pmid: 18372142
references.citation: Psychooncology. 2011 Jan;20(1):44-52
references.pmid: 20201115
references.citation: J Palliat Med. 2005 Feb;8(1):69-78
references.pmid: 15662175
references.citation: Image J Nurs Sch. 1998;30(1):63-9
references.pmid: 9549944
references.citation: CMAJ. 2004 Jun 8;170(12):1795-801
references.pmid: 15184333
references.citation: Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2010 Oct;14(5):567-77
references.pmid: 20880815
references.citation: Oncol Nurs Forum. 2007 Mar;34(2):323-30
references.pmid: 17573296
references.citation: Oncologist. 2010;15(8):883-93
references.pmid: 20667966
references.citation: Patient Educ Couns. 2011 Dec;85(3):446-53
references.pmid: 21439755
references.citation: Pain. 2008 Jul 15;137(2):306-315
references.pmid: 17942229
references.citation: J Pain Symptom Manage. 2011 Jan;41(1):1-13
references.pmid: 20832982
references.citation: J Behav Med. 1992 Oct;15(5):447-68
references.pmid: 1447757
references.citation: Gerontologist. 1990 Oct;30(5):583-94
references.pmid: 2276631
references.citation: Psychooncology. 1998 Jan-Feb;7(1):37-48
references.pmid: 9516649
references.citation: J Aging Health. 2007 Feb;19(1):3-21
references.pmid: 17215199
references.citation: Cancer Nurs. 2008 Sep-Oct;31(5):399-407
references.pmid: 18772665