School of Psychology, Vanier Hall, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean Jacques Lussier Private, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Canada.
Qual Life Res. 2023 Dec;32(12):3521-3529. doi: 10.1007/s11136-023-03481-3. Epub 2023 Aug 3.
Patients with ovarian cancer and their spousal caregivers report similarities in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and experiences throughout the cancer process. Previous research has reflected these shared experiences, demonstrating caregivers' capacity to accurately rate their patient-partner's HRQoL as a proxy. In response, this study examines associations between caregivers' perceptions of their patient-partner's HRQoL and their own caregiving responsibilities, consequences to well-being, and desired assistance from the healthcare system. This study will be beneficial when developing supports to assist caregivers throughout the cancer journey.
Using a cross-sectional survey design, spousal caregivers (N = 82) of patients with ovarian cancer completed measures on perceived patient HRQoL and caregiver experiences. Correlation analyses determined medical and sociodemographic covariates. A multivariate multiple regression was conducted using four proxy HRQoL functioning subscales and three factors of reported experiences as caregivers in cancer. Post-hoc univariate regression analyses were run on significant factors to assess the associations that exist.
Caregiver-perceived patient physical functioning was significantly associated with more caregiving tasks after controlling for education, age, and stage of ovarian cancer, but no other HRQoL functioning scale (i.e., role, emotional, social) was associated with caregiver experiences.
The study provides a unique perspective into the caregiver experience by attending to interpersonal factors in relation to caregiver experiences. Results may be able to guide interventions aimed at supporting caregivers through the cancer process by offering more assistance with tasks as their partner's physical condition worsens.
卵巢癌患者及其配偶照顾者报告在健康相关生活质量（HRQoL）和癌症过程中的经历方面存在相似之处。先前的研究反映了这些共同的经历，证明了照顾者能够作为代理人准确评估其患者伴侣的 HRQoL。有鉴于此，本研究考察了照顾者对其患者伴侣的 HRQoL 的看法与其自身的照顾责任、对幸福感的影响以及对医疗保健系统的期望之间的关联。本研究将有助于在为整个癌症治疗过程中的照顾者提供支持时发挥作用。
使用横断面调查设计，卵巢癌患者的配偶照顾者（N=82）完成了关于照顾者对患者 HRQoL 的看法以及照顾者经历的测量。相关性分析确定了医疗和社会人口统计学协变量。使用四个代理 HRQoL 功能子量表和三个作为癌症照顾者的报告经历因素进行了多元多重回归分析。对有意义的因素进行了单变量回归分析，以评估存在的关联。
在控制教育程度、年龄和卵巢癌分期后，照顾者感知到的患者身体功能与更多的照顾任务显著相关，但没有其他 HRQoL 功能量表（即角色、情感、社会）与照顾者经历相关。
本研究通过关注与照顾者经历相关的人际因素，为照顾者的体验提供了独特的视角。研究结果可以为通过为伴侣的身体状况恶化提供更多的任务支持来为照顾者在癌症治疗过程中提供支持的干预措施提供指导。
