Processes for Identifying Caregivers and Screening for Caregiver and Patient Distress in Community Oncology: Results from WF-1803CD.
Journal
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
ISSN: 1460-2105
Titre abrégé: J Natl Cancer Inst
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 7503089
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
21 Sep 2023
21 Sep 2023
Historique:
received:
25
05
2023
revised:
13
08
2023
accepted:
11
09
2023
medline:
22
9
2023
pubmed:
22
9
2023
entrez:
22
9
2023
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Despite their vital roles, informal caregivers of adult cancer patients are commonly overlooked in cancer care. This study describes processes for identifying cancer caregivers and processes for distress screening and management among caregivers and patients in the understudied community oncology setting. Supportive care leaders (SCLs) from NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) practices completed online survey questions regarding caregiver identification, caregiver and patient distress screening, and distress management strategies. We described practice group characteristics and prevalence of study outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression explored associations between practice group characteristics and caregiver identification in the electronic health record (EHR). Most SCLs (64.9%); 72/111) reported routine identification and documentation of informal caregivers; 63.8% record this information in the EHR. Only 16% routinely screen caregivers for distress, though 92.5% screen patients. Distress management strategies for caregivers and patients are widely available, yet only 12.6% routinely identified, screened and had at least one referral strategy for caregivers with distress; 90.6% routinely screened and had at least one referral strategy for patients. Practices with a free-standing outpatient clinic (OR = 0.29, p = .0106) and academic affiliation (OR = 0.01, p = .04) were less likely to identify and document caregivers in the EHR. However, higher oncologist volume was associated with an increased likelihood of recording caregiver information in the EHR (OR = 1.04, p = 0.02). Despite high levels of patient distress screening and management, few practices provide comprehensive caregiver engagement practices. Existing patient engagement protocols may provide a promising platform to build capacity to better address caregiver needs.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Despite their vital roles, informal caregivers of adult cancer patients are commonly overlooked in cancer care. This study describes processes for identifying cancer caregivers and processes for distress screening and management among caregivers and patients in the understudied community oncology setting.
METHODS
METHODS
Supportive care leaders (SCLs) from NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) practices completed online survey questions regarding caregiver identification, caregiver and patient distress screening, and distress management strategies. We described practice group characteristics and prevalence of study outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression explored associations between practice group characteristics and caregiver identification in the electronic health record (EHR).
RESULTS
RESULTS
Most SCLs (64.9%); 72/111) reported routine identification and documentation of informal caregivers; 63.8% record this information in the EHR. Only 16% routinely screen caregivers for distress, though 92.5% screen patients. Distress management strategies for caregivers and patients are widely available, yet only 12.6% routinely identified, screened and had at least one referral strategy for caregivers with distress; 90.6% routinely screened and had at least one referral strategy for patients. Practices with a free-standing outpatient clinic (OR = 0.29, p = .0106) and academic affiliation (OR = 0.01, p = .04) were less likely to identify and document caregivers in the EHR. However, higher oncologist volume was associated with an increased likelihood of recording caregiver information in the EHR (OR = 1.04, p = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Despite high levels of patient distress screening and management, few practices provide comprehensive caregiver engagement practices. Existing patient engagement protocols may provide a promising platform to build capacity to better address caregiver needs.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37738445
pii: 7279243
doi: 10.1093/jnci/djad198
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.