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Economic and social changes among distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients

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Abstract

Purpose

Although costs of lung cancer care have been documented, economic and social changes among lung cancer patients’ family caregivers have yet to be fully examined. In addition, research has not focused on caregivers with greater need for support services. This study examined various economic and social changes among distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients during the initial months of cancer care in the USA.

Methods

Lung cancer patients’ primary family caregivers with significant anxiety or depressive symptoms were recruited from three medical centers within 12 weeks of the patient’s new oncology visit. Caregivers (N = 83) reported demographic and medical information and caregiving burden at baseline. Seventy-four caregivers reported anxiety and depressive symptoms and economic and social changes 3 months later.

Results

Seventy-four percent of distressed caregivers experienced one or more adverse economic or social changes since the patient’s illness. Common changes included caregivers’ disengagement from most social and leisure activities (56 %) and, among employed caregivers (n = 49), reduced hours of work (45 %). In 18 % of cases, a family member quit work or made another major lifestyle change due to caregiving. Additionally, 28 % of caregivers reported losing the main source of family income, and 18 % reported losing most or all of the family savings. Loss of the main source of family income and disengagement from most social and leisure activities predicted greater caregiver distress.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that distressed caregivers of lung cancer patients experience high rates of adverse economic and social changes that warrant clinical and research attention.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grant No. R03CA139862 from the National Cancer Institute. CM was supported by F32CA130600 from the National Cancer Institute and KL2 RR025760 (A. Shekhar, PI) from the National Center for Research Resources. The authors would like to thank the study participants, the thoracic oncology teams at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, and the Roudebush VA Medical Center, Scarlett Ho, Aigul Amankeldi, Shannon M. Christy, and undergraduate students for their assistance.

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 North Blackford Street, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Catherine E. Mosher

  2. Indiana University School of Nursing, 1111 Middle Drive, NU 340G, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Victoria L. Champion

  3. Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, 32 Fruit Street, Yawkey 7E, Room 7.051, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Christopher G. Azzoli

  4. Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana Cancer Pavilion, 535 Barnhill Drive, Room 473, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Nasser Hanna, Shadia I. Jalal & Lawrence H. Einhorn

  5. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA

    Achilles J. Fakiris

  6. Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, 545 Barnhill Drive, Emerson Hall 215, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Thomas J. Birdas, Ikenna C. Okereke & Kenneth A. Kesler

  7. Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 West 10th Street, Suite 3000, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Patrick O. Monahan

  8. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA

    Jamie S. Ostroff

Authors
  1. Catherine E. Mosher
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  2. Victoria L. Champion
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  3. Christopher G. Azzoli
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  4. Nasser Hanna
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  5. Shadia I. Jalal
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  6. Achilles J. Fakiris
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  7. Thomas J. Birdas
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  8. Ikenna C. Okereke
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  9. Kenneth A. Kesler
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  10. Lawrence H. Einhorn
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  11. Patrick O. Monahan
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  12. Jamie S. Ostroff
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine E. Mosher.

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Mosher, C.E., Champion, V.L., Azzoli, C.G. et al. Economic and social changes among distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 21, 819–826 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1585-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1585-6

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