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Differential effects of patient symptom subtypes on informal hospice caregiver depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2017

Chelsey M. Wilkes ,
Karla T. Washington ,
William M. Palmer ,
Debra Parker Oliver ,
George Demiris  and
Kevin Craig
Chelsey M. Wilkes
Affiliation:
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois
Karla T. Washington*
Affiliation:
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
William M. Palmer
Affiliation:
Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, Missouri
Debra Parker Oliver
Affiliation:
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
George Demiris
Affiliation:
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Kevin Craig
Affiliation:
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Karla T. Washington, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, MA306 Medical Sciences Building, DC032.00 Columbia, Missouri, 65212. E-mail: WashingtonKar@health.missouri.edu.
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Abstract

Objective:

Researchers sought to determine the extent to which burden related to patients' symptom subtypes could predict informal hospice caregiver depression, and to illustrate the differences between caregivers who experience suicidal ideation and those who do not.

Method:

Informal caregivers recruited from a not-for-profit community-based hospice agency participated in a cross-sectional survey. Self-report questionnaires assessed caregiver burden associated with patient symptomatology (via a modified version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale–Short Form) and caregiver depressive symptoms, including suicidal ideation (measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire–9). Multiple regressions evaluated the unique predictability of patients' symptom subtypes on caregiver depression. Exploratory analyses examined mean differences of study variables between participants who did and did not endorse suicidal ideation.

Results:

Caregiver burden related to patients' psychological symptoms accounted for significant variance in caregiver depression scores when controlling for burden related to physical symptoms. Among 229 caregivers (M age = 61.4 years), 12 reported suicidal ideation, where 6 of the 12 were male, despite male caregivers comprising less than 20% of the total sample.

Significance of results:

Burden associated with patients' psychological symptoms uniquely contributed to caregiver depression, further highlighting the clinical utility and necessity for hospice providers to address the emotional needs of patients and their caregivers alike. Developing clinical procedures to identify and respond to such needs would not only behoove hospice agencies, but it would likely enhance the caregiving experience holistically, which might be particularly imperative for male caregivers.

Keywords

CaregiverDepressionSuicidal ideationEnd of lifeAdvanced illness
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , April 2018 , pp. 127 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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