Quality of Life in Caregivers of Hospitalized Older Patients With Cancer

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Identify patient and caregiver factors associated with increased caregiver burden and decreased quality of life in caregivers of older adults with cancer.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine characteristics of informal caregivers of older adults with cancer admitted to hospital.

II. Determine type and amount of care informal caregivers provide for older adults with cancer admitted to hospital.

III. Determine quality of life in informal caregivers of older adults with cancer admitted to hospital.

IV. Identify caregiver needs, both informational and resource related. V. Explore the association between re-admission to the hospital within 30 days and caregiver burden.

VI. Explore whether feedback of information attained from the assessment of the caregiver influences services implemented by the health care team.

VII. Determine reasons for non-participation.

OUTLINE:

Caregivers complete a questionnaire about their sociodemographics, physical health, social supports, social activity, mental health and caregiver burden. They will also provide an assessment of the person they care for.

Inclusion criteria

• PATIENT: Age >= 65 years old
• PATIENT: Diagnosis of cancer (solid or hematologic malignancy)
• PATIENT: Be able to provide informed consent
• PATIENT: Unplanned admission to hospital
• CAREGIVER: Primary caregiver (person who provides all of the majority of the unpaid care for the care recipient)
• CAREGIVER: Be able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• PATIENT: Planned admission to hospital for treatment (chemotherapy, transplant)
• CAREGIVER: Not fluent in English (because not all questionnaires have been validated in other languages)
• CAREGIVER: Paid and trained to care for the patient