Quality of Life and Needs in Caregivers: Results From the Prospective Multicentric Open-Label Randomized Study of Informal Caregivers of Elderly Patients.

Astrid Pozet, Sophie Darnis, Magalie Bonnet, Aurélia Meurisse, Tienhan Sandrine Dabakuyo-Yonli, Catherine Lejeune, Philippe Fagnoni, Maryse Gaimard, Patrick Manckoundia, Clémence Quibel, Mélanie Marchand, Amélie Anota, Virginie Nerich

Journal: International journal of public health 2023;68():1605459

PMID: 37711159

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Plain Language Summary

Nearly 25% of employed individuals in European countries are expected to take on unpaid caregiving responsibilities, assisting elderly people. Caregiving responsibilities are extremely demanding and can impact various aspects of life, including mental and physical health and overall well-being. Monitoring caregiver mental health and providing support through respite care, education, and long-term care can alleviate caregiving burdens and prevent deterioration. This multicenter, open-label, randomised study assessed caregiver Quality of Life (QoL), anxiety, depression, and burden at one and two years, who received an information booklet and social worker support or information booklet exclusively. Healthcare professionals can use the information from this study to gain insight into caregivers' needs and the beneficial effects of social support in mitigating depression. Further robust studies are required to identify caregivers' needs and the types of support necessary to address their issues and help them efficiently.

Abstract

To assess health-related quality of life (QoL) in caregivers of elderly patients with chronic disabilities receiving, or not receiving, social worker support. This multicenter open-label randomized study assigned caregivers to receive an information booklet, exclusively, or with social worker support. Caregivers completed Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale quarterly, and Zarit Burden Interview each semester, for 24 months. We reported caregiver QoL mean changes at 12 and 24 months (M12, M24). Longitudinal QoL analysis up to M24 used mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM). Among the 179 caregivers randomized from 2015 to 2019, the SF-36 physical and mental component summary showed no significant changes at M12 and M24, in terms of neither anxiety nor burden. However, depression significantly increased (M12: 1.4 ± 4.0; M24: 1.7 ± 4.1) with significant adjusted mean increase using MMRM at M24: 3.4 [0.6-2.5] in the control group, exclusively. These findings call for better recognition of the social support to prevent caregiver QoL deterioration and alleviate their depression early in the course of the disease. ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02626377.

Address: Methodological and Quality of Life Unit in Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, Besançon, France.; UMR1098, Interactions Hôte-Greffon-Tumeur/Ingénierie Cellulaire et Génique, INSERM, Université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Etablissement Français du Sang Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.; Department of Clinical Research and Innovation, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.; Department of Psychology, EA 3188, UFR Sciences du Langage de l'Homme et de la Société, Université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.; Epidemiology and Quality of Life Research Unit, INSERM U1231, Georges François Leclerc Centre - UNICANCER, Dijon, France.; The French National Platform Quality of Life and Cancer, Dijon, France.; INSERM, CIC1432, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France.; Department of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France.; INSERM U866, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France.; Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche Sociétés, Sensibilités, Soin (LIR3S), UMR 7366, Université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Dijon, France.; Department of Gerontology, Hôpital de Champmaillot, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon, France.; Pôle de Gérontologie et d'Innovation (PGI) de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.; Department of Human and Social Sciences, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.; Department of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, Besançon, France.

DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605459