Psychosocial Support Needs and Preferences of Caregivers of Lung Cancer Patients

研究表明，相当大比例的晚期癌症患者的家庭照顾者（30%至50%）经历了临床上显著的痛苦。肺癌是癌症死亡的最常见原因，与其他癌症类型的患者相比，这种疾病的患者会经历更多的症状困扰，这可能会增加护理需求。目前，对癌症患者的家庭照顾者未充分利用社会心理支持服务的原因了解有限，并且缺乏针对这一人群需求的基于研究的干预措施。

Research has shown that a significant proportion of advanced cancer patients' family caregivers (30% to 50%) experience clinically significant distress. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths, and patients with this disease experience more symptom distress relative to patients with other cancer types, which may increase care-giving demands. Currently, there is limited knowledge of the reasons that cancer patients' family caregivers underutilize psychosocial support services, and there is a paucity of research-based interventions that are tailored to the needs of this population. In this study, a sample of primary family caregivers (e.g., spouses, adult children; N = 80) with clinically significant distress will be recruited to complete individual phone assessments approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the patient's lung cancer diagnosis and three months later. A subsample (n = 30) that has not accessed psychosocial services over the study period will also complete a qualitative interview within 2 weeks of the 3- month follow-up. The study aims are to examine: (1) psychosocial and practical needs of primary family caregivers of lung cancer patients; (2) psychosocial and practical barriers to psychosocial support service use in this population; and (3) family caregivers' preferences (preferred topics, modality, provider, timing) regarding psychosocial support interventions. Finally, the extent to which theory-driven demographic and psychosocial variables at baseline predict subsequent psychosocial support service use among family caregivers will be assessed. Results will directly inform the design and delivery of new psychosocial interventions that are tailored to the needs of lung cancer patients' family caregivers. In addition, this study will provide new and valuable information for identifying distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients who are less likely to use psychosocial support services and developing strategies to increase appropriate use of these services.