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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Oct;33(10):1261-72.
doi: 10.1037/a0034216. Epub 2013 Nov 18.

CHESS improves cancer caregivers' burden and mood: results of an eHealth RCT

Lori L DuBenske  1 , David H Gustafson  2 , Kang Namkoong  3 , Robert P Hawkins  4 , Amy K Atwood  2 , Roger L Brown  5 , Ming-Yuan Chih  2 , Fiona McTavish  2 , Cindy L Carmack  6 , Mary K Buss  7 , Ramaswamy Govindan  8 , James F Cleary  9
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

CHESS improves cancer caregivers' burden and mood: results of an eHealth RCT

Lori L DuBenske et al. Health Psychol. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: Informal caregivers (family and friends) of people with cancer are often unprepared for their caregiving role, leading to increased burden or distress. Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS) is a Web-based lung cancer information, communication, and coaching system for caregivers. This randomized trial reports the impact on caregiver burden, disruptiveness, and mood of providing caregivers access to CHESS versus the Internet with a list of recommended lung cancer websites.

Methods: A total of 285 informal caregivers of patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer were randomly assigned to a comparison group that received Internet or a treatment group that received Internet and CHESS. Caregivers were provided a computer and Internet service if needed. Written surveys were completed at pretest and during the intervention period bimonthly for up to 24 months. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) compared the intervention's effect on caregivers' disruptiveness and burden (CQOLI-C), and negative mood (combined Anxiety, Depression, and Anger scales of the POMS) at 6 months, controlling for blocking variables (site, caregiver's race, and relationship to patient) and the given outcome at pretest.

Results: Caregivers randomized to CHESS reported lower burden, t(84) = 2.36, p = .021, d = .39, and negative mood, t(86) = 2.82, p = .006, d = .44, than those in the Internet group. The effect on disruptiveness was not significant.

Conclusions: Although caring for someone with a terminal illness will always exact a toll on caregivers, eHealth interventions like CHESS may improve caregivers' understanding and coping skills and, as a result, ease their burden and mood.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00365963.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Application of CHESS to Caregiving Model of Stress and Coping
Figure 2
Figure 2
Participant Flow Diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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