Care Partners: Web-based Support for Caregivers of Veterans Undergoing Chemotherapy

Study Summary

Given the growing strain on the Veterans Administration resulting from increasing caseloads of cancer patients, interventions are badly needed that assist patients in managing their illness, improve quality of life and avoid acute episodes that result in urgent care use and increased mortality. Previous studies have found that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy can effectively manage their own symptoms when monitored using automated telephone calls. Such technology, however, may challenge the number of Veterans who lack social support and/or independence. The goal was to develop and test a technology that not only monitors patients automatically by telephone, but also gives them self management advice and engages a friend or family member to serve as a CarePartner willing to play a limited role in identifying patient symptoms and psychosocial needs to reinforce self management and provide social support. The investigators found that this technology indeed helped patients better control their symptoms, especially when a caregiver participated in the program along with them.

Primary Outcome

Summed severity across 8 symptoms of interest, as measured using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. 8 core symptoms rated by the patient on a scale of 0 to 10. These 8 symptoms were chosen based on their prevalence of 50% or greater in the population of interest. Higher scores mean WORSE or GREATER SYMPTOM BURDEN.

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL Caregiver website