Distinct Dyadic Quality of Life Profiles Among Advanced Lung Cancer Patient-Caregiver Dyads: A Latent Profile Analysis

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to identify the heterogeneity of dyadic quality of life (QoL) profiles, determine whether these profiles differ in terms of demographic and medical factors, neuroticism, resilience, and family functioning, and explore the combined effect of patient and caregiver neuroticism, resilience, and family functioning on dyadic QoL profiles. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 304 advanced lung cancer patient-caregiver dyads enrolled from radiotherapy and chemotherapy departments at three tertiary hospitals. Self-report questionnaires were administered to patient-caregiver dyads to assess demographic and medical characteristics, neuroticism, resilience, family functioning and QoL. Results The latent profile analysis identified four subgroups of dyadic QoL: patient low-caregiver high profile (38.82%), patient high-caregiver high profile (22.37%), patient high-caregiver low profile (19.74%), and patient low-caregiver low profile (19.08%). Additionally, when both patients and their caregivers had a high level of neuroticism or low level of resilience, and low family functioning, compared with only member having them, there was a higher risk of poorer dyadic QoL. Conclusions Our study identified the four heterogeneities of dyadic QoL profiles among advanced lung cancer patient-caregiver dyads. Future dyadic interventions should consider the heterogeneity of dyadic QoL in this population and prioritize patient-caregiver dyads who are at risk of poor dyadic QoL. Furthermore, when high neuroticism, low resilience, or family functioning coexist between patients and their caregivers, both parties exhibit much lower dyadic QoL.