The goals of the study are to investigate the needs of older (age 60+) caregivers caring for adults with cancer at 1-week and 2 weeks following hospital discharge and to explore strategies that may assist caregivers in their home caregiving needs. This study will explore how these needs vary based on caregiver spirituality and relationship with the care recipient. The study will enroll cancer patients and their caregivers admitted to 9100 and 9300, which are the hematological and non-hematological malignancy units at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) respectively. Results of this study will lay the groundwork for creating tailored interventions for caregivers that are compatible to their preferences and more responsive to their needs.
Baseline demographic data about the caregiver and patient will be collected at patient beside prior to hospital discharge. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with the cancer caregivers in their home at 1-week after their loved one was discharged from the hospital, and at 2-weeks after discharge from the hospital. This study utilizes a qualitative descriptive design.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
23
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Unmet cancer caregiver needs
Explore the needs (e.g., psychosocial) of older adults caring for a loved one with cancer at home during the first and second weeks after hospital discharge, and determine how these needs vary by spirituality and relationship to the care recipient.
Time frame: 1 week after patient discharge from hospital
Caregiver strategies assisting in caregiving role
Identify the strategies used by older caregivers during the first and second weeks after hospital discharge, and determine how these strategies vary by spirituality and relationship to the care recipient.
Time frame: 1 week after patient discharge from hospital
Caregiver decision making in seeking assistance for cancer patient
Describe the preferences of support and assistance (e.g., family/friends) of older caregivers in caring for a loved one with cancer at home during the first and second weeks after hospital discharge, and determine how these preferences vary by spirituality and relationship to the care recipient.
Time frame: 1 week after patient discharge from hospital
Caregiver needs and preferences vary with time
Explore whether caregiver needs and preferences vary with time (1 week versus 2 weeks post hospital discharge).
Time frame: 2 weeks after patient discharge from the hospital
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