EVIDENCE ON SUPPORTING CANCER CAREGIVERS

Meta-analyses of caregiver interventions reveal positive outcomes for family caregivers and patients alike. As Northouse et al^16(p1229) wrote, “[W]hen the patient-caregiver dyad is treated as the unit of care, important synergies are achieved that contribute to the well-being of both patients and caregivers.”

Education, skills training, and therapeutic counseling for caregivers favorably affect how they perceive their burden, quality of life, coping skills, and knowledge while lowering their levels of depression and distress.^7,16,25–29 By the same token, patients who are effectively supported by a caregiver are less symptomatic and experience better physical and mental health than are controls.^{16,25,27–29}

Most cancer centers and clinics do not offer comprehensive caregiver support programs, despite clear evidence of benefit.¹⁶ One barrier is the lack of a cohesive framework that outlines which types of services to offer—and how to pay for and measure the effects of those investments. We propose such a framework, so that cancer organizations can discuss its merits and adopt the components best suited to their institutions.

Copyright © 2016 by American Society of Clinical Oncology