Abstract
BackgroundMany family caregivers of patients with cancer feel guilty about self-care. A meaningful relationship with patients reduces such negative feelings and functions as self-care for family caregivers. Moreover, handholding improves autonomic functions in non-cancer patients. However, the effects of handholding on both patients with cancer and family caregivers remain unknown.MethodsWe evaluated the effects of handholding on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with cancer and their family caregivers. This randomized crossover study divided patients with cancer and their family caregivers into two trial groups: Handholding trial (the family caregiver holds the patient’s hand for five minutes) and Beside trial (the family caregiver stays beside the patient without holding their hand). The study included 37 pairs of patients with cancer who received treatment in the cancer department of a university hospital in Japan and their family caregivers (n = 74). The primary end-point was the change in HRV before and during the intervention.ResultsThe median performance status of the patients was 3. An interaction was observed between trials in the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN) of HRV for family caregivers (F = 7.669; p = 0.006), and a significant difference in time course was observed between the trials (before p = 0.351; during p = 0.003). No interaction was observed between trials in the SDNN for patients (F = 0.331; p = 0.566). Only a main effect in time course (F = 6.254; p = 0.014) was observed. SDNN increased significantly during the intervention in both trials (Handholding trial: p = 0.002, Beside trial: p = 0.049).ConclusionsHandholding improves autonomic functions of family caregivers and may function as self-care for family caregivers.Trial registrationUMIN000020557. Registered on January 15, 2016.
Highlights
Many family caregivers of patients with cancer feel guilty about self-care
Several studies have reported that educating family caregivers about the benefits of relaxation is effective in improving their self-care practice [7, 8]
In a comparison of changes in heart rate variability (HRV) before and during intervention analyzed using a paired t-test, standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN) and low frequency (LF) score were significantly increased in the Handholding trial (SDNN, p = 0.022; LF, p = 0.036) and significantly decreased in the Beside trial (SDNN, p = 0.010; LF, p = 0.026)
Summary
Many family caregivers of patients with cancer feel guilty about self-care. A meaningful relationship with patients reduces such negative feelings and functions as self-care for family caregivers. Caregivers are less motivated to engage in selfcare because they feel guilty about not effectively being involved in patient care or of taking care of themselves [1]. The importance of self-care support for both family caregivers and patients with cancer has been recognized [6]. Several studies have reported that educating family caregivers about the benefits of relaxation is effective in improving their self-care practice [7, 8]. Effective interaction with patients has been reported as a form of self-care for family caregivers [1]
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