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Enhancing quality of life and mastery of informal caregivers of high-grade glioma patients: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

High-grade gliomas (HGG) are serious primary brain tumors that may prevent the patient from functioning normally in social, emotional and cognitive respect. Often the partner’s role will convert to that of informal caregiver. Consequently, they may experience significant stress and reductions in caregiver mastery, negatively affecting their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed at (1) determining factors that impact HRQOL and mastery of caregivers of HGG patients, and (2) investigate if a structured intervention consisting of psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral therapy leads to improvements in the mental component of HRQOL and mastery of caregivers. Fifty-six patient-caregiver dyads were randomly assigned to the intervention group or the care as usual group. The intervention program consisted of six one-hour sessions with a psychologist. Participants completed questionnaires concerning their perceptions of the patients’ HRQOL (SF-36), neurological functioning (BN20), and cognitive functioning (MOS), and concerning their own HRQOL (SF-36) and feelings of caregiver mastery (CMS) both at baseline (i.e. before randomization) and every 2 months thereafter until 8 months later, five times in total. Patients’ HRQOL and neurological functioning were found to be related to HRQOL and feelings of mastery of the informal caregiver at baseline. The intervention helped caregivers in maintaining a stable level of HRQOL and improved feelings of mastery over an 8 month period. Our findings suggest that informal caregivers can benefit from a psychological intervention as it is a helpful tool in maintaining a stable level of mental functioning and caregiver mastery.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an unrestricted grant of the Tug McGraw Foundation/National Brain Tumor Society. Special gratitude is owed to the neuro-oncology nurse practitioners of all three hospitals for their efforts in recruiting patient-caregiver dyads: Lies Braam, Claudia Nijboer, Alieke Weerdesteijn and Hanneke Zwinkels.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, D-345, 1081 BT, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Florien W. Boele, Wopke Hoeben, Karen Hilverda, Jeroen Lenting, Anne-Lucia Calis, Emma H. Collette & Martin Klein

  2. Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Eefje M. Sizoo, Jan J. Heimans, Martin J. B. Taphoorn & Jaap C. Reijneveld

  3. Department of Neurology, Medical Center Haaglanden, PO Box 432, 2501 CK, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Martin J. B. Taphoorn

  4. Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Jaap C. Reijneveld

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  1. Florien W. Boele
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Correspondence to Florien W. Boele.

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Boele, F.W., Hoeben, W., Hilverda, K. et al. Enhancing quality of life and mastery of informal caregivers of high-grade glioma patients: a randomized controlled trial. J Neurooncol 111, 303–311 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-012-1012-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-012-1012-3

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