Internet-based Support for Informal Caregivers of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer - Carer eSupport

The self-reported questionnaire Caregiver Burden Scale

A self-reported questionnaire consisting of 22 items responded to on a 4-grade scale (1 Not at all - 4 Often), a higher score indicates a more significant burden. The 22 items may be divided into the factors of General strain, Disappointment, Emotional involvement, Environment, and Isolation, and the mean of all items indicates the total burden.

Time frame: Baseline, 18 weeks after randomization (post-intervention) and 3 months after post-intervention.

The self-reported questionnaire Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS21)

A self-reported questionnaire consisting of 21 items constituting three subscales, with seven item each, measuring depression, anxiety, and stress. Each item is scored on a 4-grade scale, with higher scores indicating more symptoms.

Time frame: Baseline, 18 weeks after randomization (post-intervention) and 3 months after post-intervention.

The self-reported health-related quality of life questionnaire RAND-36

A self-reported health-related quality of life questionnaire consisting of 36 items measuring physical functioning (10 items), role limitations due to physical (4 items) and emotional (3 items) health problems, social functioning (2 items), emotional well-being (5 items), energy/fatigue (4 items), pain (2 items), and general health perceptions (5 items) and perceived change in health (1 item). All scales are scored so that that the lowest and highest possible scores are set at 0 and 100, respectively. Higher scores indicate a better health-related quality of life.

Time frame: Baseline, 18 weeks after randomization (post-intervention) and 3 months after post-intervention.