Lifestyle and Symptom Management Needs: A Network Analysis of Family Caregiver Needs of Cancer Patients
Open Access
- 20 September 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Frontiers Media SA in Frontiers in Psychiatry
Abstract
Previous research on the needs of family cancer caregivers (FCCs) have not elucidated associations between specific caregiving needs. Network analysis, a statistical approach that allows the estimation of complex relationship patterns, helps facilitate the understanding of associations between needs and provides the opportunity to identify and direct interventions at relevant and specific targets. No studies to date, have applied network analysis to FCC populations. The aim of the study is to explore the network structure of FCC needs in a cohort of caregivers in Singapore. FCCs (N = 363) were recruited and completed a self-report questionnaire on socio-demographic data, medical data on their loved ones, and the Needs Assessment of Family Caregivers-Cancer scale. The network was estimated using state-of-the-art regularized partial correlation model. The most central needs were having to deal with lifestyle changes and managing care-recipients cancer-related symptoms. The strongest associations were between (1) having enough insurance coverage and understanding/navigating insurance coverage, (2) managing cancer-related pain and managing cancer-related symptoms, (3) being satisfied with relationships and having intimate relationships, and (4) taking care of bills and paying off medical expenses. Lifestyle changes, living with cancer, and symptom management are central to FCCs in Singapore. These areas deserve special attention in the development of caregiver support systems. Our findings highlight the need to improve access to social and medical support to help FCCs in their transition into the caregiving role and handle cancer-related problems.This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- Psychological distress and loneliness in caregiver of advanced oncological inpatientsJournal of Health Psychology, 2016
- A retrospective audit of spirituality assessment in palliative care patients in SingaporeProgress in Palliative Care, 2014
- Network Analysis: An Integrative Approach to the Structure of PsychopathologyAnnual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2013
- Why the Item “23 +1” Is Not in a Depression Questionnaire: Validity From a Network PerspectiveMeasurement: Interdisciplinary Research and Perspectives, 2012
- A couple‐based intervention for patients and caregivers facing end‐stage cancer: outcomes of a randomized controlled trialPsycho‐Oncology, 2011
- The Nested Structure of Cancer SymptomsMethods of Information in Medicine, 2010
- Review of the literature on the effects of caring for a patient with cancerPsycho‐Oncology, 2009
- Needs assessment of family caregivers of cancer survivors: three cohorts comparisonPsycho‐Oncology, 2009
- Impact of caregivers’ unmet needs for supportive care on quality of terminal cancer care delivered and caregiver’s workforce performanceSupportive Care in Cancer, 2009
- Sparse inverse covariance estimation with the graphical lassoBiostatistics, 2007