title: Identifying family members who are likely to perceive benefits from providing care to a person with a primary malignant brain tumor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify changes in positive aspects of care (PAC) from the time of diagnosis to four months following the diagnosis in family caregivers of care recipients with primary malignant brain tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dyads were recruited from neurosurgery clinics in Pittsburgh, PA, at the time of care recipients' diagnosis with a primary malignant brain tumor. A second data collection took place four months following the diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  89 caregiver and care recipient dyads.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paired t tests were used to examine change in PAC, univariate analyses were used to determine predictors of PAC at four months, Mann-Whitney U tests and t tests were used to examine associations between categorical predictor variables and PAC at four months, and univariate linear regressions were used to examine associations between continuous predictors and PAC at four months.
  
  
  METHODS
  The impact of sociodemographic factors, caregiver-perceived social support, mastery, neuroticism, and marital satisfaction on PAC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers' PAC scores during the first four months following diagnosis appeared to remain stable over time. Significant differences were found between the care recipient reasoning domain group at diagnosis and PAC score. Care recipients who scored below average were associated with caregivers with higher PAC scores. Caregiver PAC at four months following diagnosis was significantly predicted by care recipient reasoning and caregiver social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAC scores appear to remain stable over time, although levels of PAC may be related to care recipients' level of functioning. Future research should focus on the development of interventions for caregivers who report low levels of PAC at the time of diagnosis in an attempt to help these individuals identify PAC in their caregiving situation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings have clinical and research implications. Clinicians may be able to better identify caregivers who are at risk for negative outcomes by understanding the risks faced by caregivers of patients with milder symptoms in addition to those caring for more profoundly affected care recipients.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. agn8@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Newberry
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Given
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Given
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult