title: Burden, quality of life, and social support in caregivers of patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: A pilot study.
abstract: The purpose of this pilot study was to (1) obtain preliminary data on changes in burden and quality of life in head and neck cancer caregivers during and shortly following patient radiotherapy, (2) assess the relationship between perceived social support and burden as well as perceived social support and quality of life in caregivers during radiotherapy, and (3) identify preferences for sources of support among caregivers during radiotherapy.
  
  
  
  Caregivers completed burden and quality of life instruments at the start of patient radiotherapy (T1), 5 weeks into radiotherapy (T2), and 1 month post-radiotherapy (T3) and instruments for perceived social support and support preferences at T2 only.
  
  
  
  Caregivers showed a trend toward increased burden and worsened quality of life for the majority of subscales at T2 or T3 than at T1. Caregivers reported significantly lower esteem and significantly greater disruption at T2 than at T1 and significantly worse health at T3 than at T2. Higher perceived social support was typically associated with lower burden and higher quality of life at T2. Spouses/partners were the most commonly preferred source of support.
  
  
  
  These pilot findings suggest that caregivers experience psychosocial impairments during and shortly after patient radiotherapy, but more research using larger samples is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA cnightin@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Chandylen L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Nightingale
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Curbow
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wingard
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Deidre B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Public Affairs, Department of Communication Science and Disorders, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Giselle D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Carnaby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Head and neck cancer; burden; caregiving; quality of life; radiotherapy