[KSCI] Korea Science Citation Index Service

http://dx.doi.org/10.14475/kjhpc.2017.20.3.188

Symptom Features of Terminally Ill Cancer Patients and Depression of Family Caregivers

Kim, Hyo Min (Department of Family Medicine, Kyungpook National University Medical Center)
Koh, Su-Jin (Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University College of Medicine)
Hwang, In Cheol (Department of Family Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center)
Choi, Youn Seon (Korea University Guro Hospital)
Hwang, Sun Wook (Catholic University St. Paul's Hospital)
Lee, Yong Joo (Catholic University Seoul St. Mary's Hospital)
Kim, Young Sung (Ilsan Hospital)

Publication Information

Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care / v.20, no.3, 2017 , pp. 188-193 More about this Journal

Abstract

Purpose: There has been very little study on the associations between patient's symptoms themselves and family caregiver (FC)'s depression in the palliative phase. This cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between symptom features of terminally ill cancer patients and their FC's depression. Methods: We performed a multicenter survey using the MD Anderson symptom inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A total of 293 patient-FC pairs were recruited from seven tertiary medical centers. A multivariate regression analysis was applied for identifying the relevant factors associated with FC depression and for estimating adjusted depression score of FCs. Results: Among various psychosocial factors, low FC quality of life, low social support, spouse, and more caregiving time were significantly associated with FCs' depression. According to the presence of FCs' depression, there were significant differences in some symptom characteristics of patients. Even after adjusting for the relevant confounders, depression scores were lower in FCs caring for patients who had negative symptoms (loss of appetite, P=0.005; drowsiness, P=0.024; and dry mouth, P=0.043) than in FCs caring for patients who had not. FCs caring for patients with severe appetite loss had lower depression scores than those with not severe one (P=0.039). Conclusion: Our result suggests that patient's symptom characteristics might be helpful when evaluating a FC's depression.

Keywords

Caregivers; Depression; Neoplasms; Symptom assessment; Terminal care;

Citations & Related Records

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