| مستخلص: |
Persons with a primary malignant brain tumor (PMBT) often suffer significant functional and neurologic morbidity causing family care-givers to assume the care recipient's familial, social, and financial obligations. Although research has shown that caregivers of persons with other types of cancer develop negative consequences as a result of providing care, caregiver issues in neuro-oncology have been virtually ignored. The purpose of this study is to use a multidisciplinary, integrative theoretical model, the Pittsburgh Mind Body Center Model, to explore the psycho-behavioral responses, biologic responses and overall health of family members of persons with a PMBT at the time of diagnosis and at 3 months after diagnosis. The specific aims of the project are to explore how caregivers' psycho-behavioral responses (depressive symptoms, anxiety, caregiver burden, positive responses to care, energy expenditure, sleep), biologic responses (blood pressure, interleukin 1, interleukin 6) and overall health change over time in relation to changes in care recipients' disease status (tumor type and grade, functional, neurologic, and symptom status) and in relation to caregivers' personal characteristics (personality type, mastery, marital satisfaction, social support). A descriptive longitudinal design is being used with 30 caregiver/ care recipient dyads > 20 years of age (11 recruited to date). Care recipients must have been diagnosed with a PMBT within one month of accrual into the study. Phlebotomy, physiologic measurement (i.e. BP) and valid and reliable questionnaires are administered during 60 minute interviews with participants. Linear and logistic regression analysis will model baseline responses. Correlational, regression, and repeated measures analysis will examine change over time. Correlation coefficients from the sample to date provide preliminary support for the direction of relationships posited in the model. In general, lower levels of interleukin 1 and higher mean diastolic BP were associated with higher levels of burden, depressive symptoms and anxiety and lower levels of positive aspects of care. This study, innovative in both its integration of biological and behavioral measures and focus on an underserved population, will help to identify characteristics of vulnerable caregivers so that a timely and efficient intervention to maintain or improve caregivers' health can be designed. Funding Sources: Sherwood (PI) Pilot study funded through Integrating Cancer and Aging (National Cancer Institute/National Institute of Aging) Herberman, R, (PI), P20 CA103730; Sherwood (PI) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
