Family Caregivers in Underserved Populations Providing Complex Cancer Care

Family Caregivers in Underserved Populations Providing Complex Cancer Care

This clinical trial develops and tests a model of family caregiver education focused on the role of underserved family caregivers as providers of complex care in the home. Cancer patients have symptoms from their cancer or treatment and are then supported by family caregivers at home with tasks requiring technical skill. Family caregivers are often asked to provide complex care whether it involves decisions about managing symptoms or providing technical care for ports/pumps, tubes, or devices. Family caregivers often are not given enough information on how to provide care for patients at home needing complex care. The results from this study may help researchers refine and improve the intervention for caregivers through future research for caregivers on a much larger scale.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Develop methods of assessing and supporting family caregiving skills in providing complex care.

II. Develop family caregiver (FCG) teaching materials and methods of instruction to enhance skills preparedness.

III. Pilot test the intervention in a cohort of underserved FCGs.

OUTLINE:

Participants attend 2 teaching sessions with a research nurse. Participants also complete questionnaires at baseline, 3, and 7 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• PATIENT: Diagnosis of any stage lung or gynecologic (gyn) cancer
• PATIENT: Read and understand English
• PATIENT: Requires either complex physical care or complex decision making regarding symptoms
• PATIENT: Age 18 years or older
• FCG: Designated by the patient as their caregiver
• FCG: Read and understand English
• FCG: Age 18 years or older
• FCG: Providing complex care and/or complex decision-making

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to read and understand English