title: Assessing cancer caregivers' needs for an early targeted psychosocial support project: The experience of the oncology department of the Poliambulanza Foundation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Caregivers play a key role in the management of patients with cancer. However, some studies have suggested that caregivers have even more unmet needs than the patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  To better identify the needs and changes in the lifestyles of the caregivers in our practice and to plan a targeted support project to decrease caregiver burden, we administered the Caregiver's QoL Index-Cancer (CQoLC) to 200 consecutive caregivers. This questionnaire assesses psychological well-being, the relationship with healthcare professionals, administration of finances, lifestyle disruption, and positive adaptation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data showed that being a caregiver to a patient with metastatic disease negatively affected females mostly with regard to mental and emotional burden, while men complained more about their sexual life (42.3 vs. 33.6%), although this result was not significant. Some 93.5% of caregivers reported that they were pleased with their role, while 83.4% were concerned about financial difficulties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We strongly believe that early supportive care directed not only at patients but also to caregivers may improve the quality of life (QoL) in this population. We are currently developing a targeted support project to decrease caregiver burden.
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Fausto
authors: F
authors: Meriggi
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Andreis
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Premi
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Liborio
authors: General Surgery Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Codignola
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Mazzocchi
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Rizzi
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Tiziana
authors: T
authors: Prochilo
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Luigina
authors: L
authors: Rota
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Brunella
authors: B
authors: Di Biasi
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Bertocchi
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Abeni
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Ogliosi
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Aroldi
authors: Oncology Department,Fondazione Poliambulanza,Brescia,Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Zaniboni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cancer; Caregivers; Psychological support; Quality of life