The Feasibility and Acceptability of a Needs-Oriented Psychoeducational Intervention Among Caregivers of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the psychoeducational interventions for caregivers of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a needs-oriented psychoeducational intervention among caregivers of AYA cancer patients. Methods: In this 2-arm (parallel-group), pilot randomized controlled trial, participants were randomized to the intervention or control group. Participants in the control group received usual care, whereas those in the intervention group received a needs-oriented psychoeducational intervention via WeChat as well as the usual care. Feasibility was evaluated on recruitment, attrition, and adherence rates and the data collection process. Acceptability was assessed based on participants' satisfaction with and perceived usefulness of the intervention, collected using a questionnaire. In addition, a semistructured interview was conducted to explore their experiences. Results: Twenty-four caregivers of AYA cancer patients were recruited, with a consent rate of 61.5%. The attrition and response rates 5 weeks after baseline were 8.3% and 91.7%. Among the 12 participants in the intervention group, 10 (83.3%) completed all of the 5 weekly sessions. Most of the participants were satisfied with the program and perceived its usefulness. The semistructured interviews revealed 3 major

A Mobile Instant Messaging–Delivered Psychoeducational Intervention for Cancer Caregivers

“…In addition to usual care, participants in the intervention group received the PEI, which was delivered by the principal investigator (PI) (Q.C.). The details of the development and delivery procedure of the intervention were described in the previous pilot study . In brief, according to stress and coping theory, caregivers’ unmet needs and coping strategies were 2 modifiable factors that were targeted to improve their health outcomes .…”

“…Therefore, guided by stress and coping theory, we developed a PEI to address this gap. The theoretical framework and the rationale for this intervention have been described previously …”

“…After developing the PEI, we conducted a pilot study to examine its feasibility and acceptability. Considering the caregivers’ varying schedules and the patients’ treatment cycles, the PEI was delivered using a mobile instant messaging application; these have been increasingly used for caregiver interventions as they allow flexibility regarding time and location .…”

“…Considering the caregivers’ varying schedules and the patients’ treatment cycles, the PEI was delivered using a mobile instant messaging application; these have been increasingly used for caregiver interventions as they allow flexibility regarding time and location . The pilot study indicated that this mobile instant messaging–delivered PEI was feasible for and acceptable to caregivers of AYA patients with cancer . We then conducted a full-scale randomized clinical trial to explore the effects of the PEI on anxiety, depression, QOL, and coping and to determine whether it reduced the unmet needs of caregivers of AYA patients with cancer.…”

Analysis of the comprehensive needs of primary caregivers of hospitalized colorectal cancer patients and characteristics analysis of high comprehensive needs population

“…They found that what caregivers needed most was observing the patient condition and the knowledge of preventing disease recurrence. Chen et al [17] surveyed 195 primary caregivers of patients with esophageal cancer and found that 90.3% of the caregivers needed nutritional guidance, and 65.1% of them hoped for personalized bedside nutritional guidance.…”