A pilot examination of the impact of cancer patients' fatigue on their spousal caregivers

Abstract

Objective:In this pilot project we examined the quality of life of spouses of cancer patients who had significant fatigue.Methods:We assessed both the spouses of cancer patients and the patients who presented with chemotherapy-induced fatigue and anemia. Study endpoints included the impact that cancer patients' fatigue had on their spouses' quality of life, including their own levels of fatigue, depressive symptoms, activity levels, work absenteeism, and marital adjustment. We examined the extent to which changes in patients' fatigue from baseline to one month follow-up were associated with changes in spouses' quality of life indices.Results:25 couples completed the study. Seven (28%) spousal caregivers reported handling fewer responsibilities at work, 8 (32%) had reduced their work hours, and 8 (32%) felt that they were less effective overall at work. Spousal caregivers also missed a significant amount of time at work during the month long study, missing an average of 2.7 (SD= 2.95) days, with an additional 1.29 (SD= 2.97) sick days and 1.76 (SD= 2.63) vacation days during that time. Spouses reporting greater levels of caregiver strain were more likely to have increased fatigue at baseline (F1,23= 8.11,p< .01), and worse dyadic adjustment at both time points (baseline:F1,23= 7.80,p< .01; follow-up:F1,21= 9.24,p< .01). Also, those with more caregiver strain were less likely to engage in social activity at baseline (F1,23= 6.11,p< .05) and more likely to engage in less work by the one month follow-up (F1,20= 8.36,p< .01).Significance of results:Spouses who were identified as having elevated burden experienced more personal fatigue, had worse dyadic adjustment, reported poor energy levels, and tended to engage in fewer work and social activities; the impact of patient's fatigue level on these parameters was highly variable in this small pilot study.