J Nicholas Dionne-Odom, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Richard A Taylor, Gabrielle B Rocque, Andres Azuero, Aras Acemgil, Michelle Y Martin, Meka Astin, Deborah Ejem, Elizabeth Kvale, Karen Heaton, Maria Pisu, Edward E Partridge, Marie A Bakitas
PURPOSE: Little is known about the impact of family caregiving for adults with poor prognosis cancer on caregivers' own individual self-care practices. We explored differences in caregivers' discrete self-care practices associated with varying levels of caregiver well-being, preparedness, and decision-making self-efficacy. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey within eight community-based southeastern U.S. cancer centers was conducted. Family caregivers of Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years with pancreatic, lung, brain, ovarian, head and neck, hematologic, or stage IV cancer completed measures of individual self-care practices (health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, stress management, and sleep), well-being (anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life [HRQoL]), preparedness, and decision-making self-efficacy...
August 2017: Supportive Care in Cancer