CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2020; 24(02): e170-e174
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3399542
Original Research
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Well-Being of Caregivers of Patients with Laryngeal Cancer Treated by Radiotherapy

1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
,
Mia Johansson
2   Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
,
Caterina Finizia
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Funding The present study received funding from the Mary von Sydow Foundation (grant/award number: ), the Stiftelsen Assar Gabrielssons Fond (grant/award number: FB16-44), and The Swedish Cancer Society (grant/award number: CAN2016/274).
Further Information

Publication History

08 February 2019

02 October 2019

Publication Date:
28 January 2020 (online)

Abstract

Introduction Laryngeal cancer is the second most common head and neck cancer, but no study to date reports exclusively on the well-being of the caregivers of patients with laryngeal cancer treated by radiotherapy.

Objective The present prospective pilot study aims to describe the impact of the work on the well-being of the caregivers of patients with laryngeal cancer.

Methods The caregivers of patients undergoing radiotherapy with curative intent for laryngeal cancer were included in the present study, and they were asked to fill out a specific questionnaire, while the patients filled out the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) following diagnosis but prior to treatment.

Results A total of 50 caregivers were included, 20% of which were male, and 80%, female. In total, 62% (n = 31) of the caregivers were spouses, while the remaining were daughters/sons (n = 11; 22%), siblings (n = 6; 12%), or they were classified as “other” (n = 2; 4%). The female caregivers scored lower (worse) on the depression/worry domain, and this was statistically significant (p = 0.047); they also reported a statistically significant higher negative impact on employment (p = 0.011) compared with the male caregivers. In general, the caregivers of patients with late-stage tumors tended to report lower (worse) scores on all domains (except hospital contact) compared with the caregivers of patients with early-stage tumors. No other differences were observed regarding the patients' age, gender, tumor site or their HADS score.

Conclusion The diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal cancer impacts the caregiver's psychological well-being, particularly that of female caregivers. This should be taken into consideration when the patients begin the hospital treatment pathway. However, larger studies are needed to target resources more appropriately.

 
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