Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and short-term impact of a fully manualized, telephone-delivered intervention for spouse caregivers, Taking Care of Her (TCH). A total of 12 study participants from the Pacific NW were enrolled whose wife was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer within 8 months. Feasibility was confirmed by rates of recruitment and retention; the quality of delivery of the intervention by telephone; and through data obtained on program acceptability during follow up exit interviews. Outcomes from the within-group analysis revealed improvements on standardized measures of spouses’ and patients’ depressed mood and anxiety; marital communication about the cancer; caregivers’ skills and confidence to manage the emotional toll of the illness on themselves and wives; and wives’ positive appraisal of spousal support. Study results suggest that the TCH Program has the potential to positively affect both spouse caregiver and patients’ adjustment to recently diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer. Telephone delivery holds promise for sustainability. A future clinical trial with a larger study sample is warranted.
Highlights
Ovarian cancer is an aggressive cancer that accounts for more deaths in women than any other cancer of the female reproductive system [1]
The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and short-term impact of a fully manualized, telephone-delivered intervention for spouse caregivers, Taking Care of Her (TCH)
Study results suggest that the TCH Program has the potential to positively affect both spouse caregiver and patients’ adjustment to recently diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer
Summary
Ovarian cancer is an aggressive cancer that accounts for more deaths in women than any other cancer of the female reproductive system [1]. Despite advances in medical treatment, the emotional impact of the disease is substantial for both the patient and her spouse caregiver. Spouse caregivers report feeling like “deer in the headlights” and do not know what to say or do to support the patient nor how to manage the distress of the disease on themselves, the patient, or their relationship [4] [5] [6]. Rates of depressed mood and anxiety are significantly elevated in both patient and caregiver and both equate the diagnosis with an inevitable death sentence [7] [8] [9] [10]. The illness deleteriously affects the couple as a dyad: it causes them to disconnect from each other, emotionally struggle on their own, constrains their communication about the illness with each other, and leaves the patient feeling abandoned, misunderstood, or unsupported [11] [12]
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