Long-Term Effect of Receiving a Family Strengths-Oriented Intervention on Family Cancer Caregiver Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms: A Longitudinal Quasi-Experimental Study.

• Published in: Journal of Family Nursing
• Main Authors: Petursdottir, Asta B, Rayens, Mary Kay, Sigurdardottir, Valgerdur, Svavarsdottir, Erla Kolbrun
• Other Authors: 1School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland. 2Landspitali The National University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland. 3University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2021
• Subjects: Family Systems Nursing; advanced cancer; bereavement; family caregiver; longitudinal research; palliative care; Krabbameinssjúklingar; Fjölskylduhjúkrun; Family Nursing; Neoplasms; Caregivers; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/621781; https://doi.org/10.1177/1074840721994332

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink below The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the long-term effects of providing a therapeutic conversation intervention, based on Family Systems Nursing, to family caregivers of a close relative with advanced cancer over the period before and during bereavement. To prevent adverse outcomes, caregivers need ongoing support that begins pre-loss and extends into the post-loss period. This study employed a one-group pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design. Twenty-four caregivers participated in two intervention trials conducted over a 42-month period, receiving two intervention sessions pre-loss (Trial 1) and one intervention session post-loss (Trial 2). Significant decreases in anxiety and stress were noted over the three post-loss assessments. The final post-loss stress outcome was significantly lower than the first pre-loss score. For the depression score, there was not a significant change over time within the pre- or post-loss period. The findings provide evidence of decreasing anxiety and stress following the implementation of an extended family nursing intervention for bereaved family caregivers. Keywords: Family Systems Nursing; advanced cancer; bereavement; family caregiver; longitudinal research; palliative care. LUH Scientific fund Scientific Fund of the Nurses Association in Iceland Research Fund of Ingibjorg R. Magnusdottir