title: Family members' or friends' involvement in self-care for patients with depressive symptoms and co-morbid chronic conditions.
abstract: To describe the support that patients reported receiving from family or friends (F/F) while participating in a self-care intervention for depressive symptoms; examine associations between patient-reported F/F support and use of self-care materials; and describe F/F perceptions of involvement in a subsample of F/F.
  
  
  
  One hundred eighty-nine of 223 (85%) patients aged 40+ with chronic physical conditions and co-morbid depressive symptoms participating in a randomized self-care intervention trial, completed structured telephone surveys at three months about the F/F support received. Ten F/F participated in post study qualitative interviews on the support provided.
  
  
  
  30%, 44%, and 91% of patients reported overall F/F support with self-care, F/F involvement with the self-care intervention and emotional support, respectively. 61% felt positively and 10% felt negatively or conflicted with F/F support. F/F involvement in the self-care intervention was the only variable associated with patient use of self-care materials when examined alongside all F/F support variables (Proportional Odds Ratio = 1.21; 95% C.I. = 1.01, 1.45). F/F perceived less involvement in the self-care intervention than patients.
  
  
  
  Patients engaged in a self-care intervention for depressive symptoms use more self-care materials when they perceive F/F involvement in the intervention. Patients and F/F may perceive involvement differently and benefit from discussions about potential F/F roles.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada tamara.sussman@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sussman
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University St Mary's Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mccusker
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada Department of Family Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital Centre, St. Mary's Hospital Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaffe
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Belzile
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada Divisions of Gastroenterology and Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Maida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sewitch
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University Department of Economics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strumpf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Self-care; adherence; chronic illnesses; depression; family support