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Quality of life in caregivers of melanoma patients

  • Clinical Report
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

The impact of melanoma on quality of life (QoL) is not limited to the patient but may also affect caregivers.

Objectives

To investigate the impact of melanoma on caregivers’ QoL.

Materials & Methods

Caregivers of melanoma patients were recruited at the melanoma unit of our hospital. The impact on caregivers’ QoL was measured using the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI).

Results

Data were collected for 120 caregivers, of whom 51.7% were men and the mean age was 56.9 years. Breslow thickness of melanoma was <0.8 mm in 70.8% of cases. Mean FDLQI score was 5.7 (SD: 2.4). Among the single items of the FDLQI, the highest mean score corresponded to emotional distress. The impact on QoL was greater when the caregiver was a son/daughter, and increased relative to the age of the patient and number of years since diagnosis.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study to quantitatively evaluate the impact of melanoma on caregivers. Such impact was not negligible and mostly concerned emotional aspects. Caregivers need to be supported by structured educational and psychological interventions.

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Funding

this study was supported, in part, by “Progetto Ricerca Corrente 2020” of the Italian Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Elena Sofia Papanikolaou, Francesca Sampogna & Damiano Abeni

  2. Dermatology Department, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Luca Fania

  3. Dermatological Day Surgery, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Giovanni Di Lella

  4. Medical Direction, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Annarita Panebianco

  5. Melanoma Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Francesco Ricci

Authors
  1. Elena Sofia Papanikolaou
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  2. Francesca Sampogna
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  3. Luca Fania
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  4. Giovanni Di Lella
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  5. Annarita Panebianco
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  6. Damiano Abeni
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  7. Francesco Ricci
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesca Sampogna.

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Conflicts of interest

none.

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Cite this article

Papanikolaou, E.S., Sampogna, F., Fania, L. et al. Quality of life in caregivers of melanoma patients. Eur J Dermatol 32, 698–702 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2022.4352

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2022.4352

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