FreshRSS

🔒
❌ Acerca de FreshRSS
Hay nuevos artículos disponibles. Pincha para refrescar la página.
AnteayerTus fuentes RSS

Factors affecting caregiver burden among parents of children with cancer: A path analysis

Abstract

Aims

To investigate the relationships between parental resilience, illness perception and pain catastrophizing as factors affecting caregiver burden among parents of children with cancer, based on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping.

Background

Parents, as the primary caregivers of children with cancer, often face universal challenges. These include adverse health impacts, work, financial disruptions, strained social and family relationships, and the need for specialised support and intervention.

Design

A cross-sectional design using path analysis.

Methods

The STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies were followed. An online questionnaire was distributed through Facebook pages operated by various organisations that support parents of children with cancer, such as ‘The Israel Cancer Association’, ‘Giving Hope’ and ‘Hayim Association’ from October 2021 to February 2022. The participants completed a questionnaire about demographic and child-related characteristics, resilience, illness perception, pain catastrophizing, social support and caregiver burden. Associations between the variables were explored using Pearson's correlations and path analyses.

Results

The study included 67 parents of children with cancer with an average age of 41.79 (SD = 6.31). The majority were mothers (n = 54, 80.6%) with a steady partner (n = 62, 92.5%). The level of caregiver burden was M (SD) = 25.00 (7.15) out of 48 possible, indicating a high burden level. Illness perception was directly positively associated with caregiver burden (β = .280, p = .017) and pain catastrophizing (β = .340, p < .01), and directly negatively with resilience (β = −.318, p < .01). Illness perception and pain catastrophizing serially mediated the relationship between resilience and caregiver burden among parents of children with cancer (β = −.190, p = .001).

Conclusions

This study found that both illness perception and pain catastrophizing serially mediated the relationship between personal resilience and caregiver burden.

Relevance to clinical practice

To ease caregiver burden for parents of children with cancer, programmes should address their psychological and emotional needs, including managing perceptions of illness and coping with pain-related distress.

Factors that influence medication adherence in women with fibromyalgia: A path analysis

Abstract

Aims

To investigate the relationships between depression symptoms, perceived stigma, disease severity, patient-provider communication and medication adherence in fibromyalgia patients. The objectives were to explore how these factors influence treatment adherence and to develop a comprehensive model illustrating their interconnections.

Background

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome with fatigue, sleep issues and idiopathic pain. Medication adherence is limited by insufficient symptom relief, side effects and costs. Stigma further complicates fibromyalgia. Disease severity affects patient-provider communication. Associations between depression, stigma, severity, communication and adherence in fibromyalgia are unclear.

Design

A cross-sectional, correlational study.

Methods

The STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies were followed. Participants included Hebrew-speaking participants who were members of two Facebook groups: ‘Shades of Purple’ and ‘Fibromyalgia- Get to Know!’ Between February and April 2022. They undertook evaluations using The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to gauge depression symptoms, assessed perceived stigma, utilised The Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire to determine disease severity, employed The Patient Reaction Assessment questionnaire for patient-provider communication, and used the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Associations between the variables were explored using Pearson's correlations and path analyses.

Results

The study included 141 women with fibromyalgia, aged 22 to 76 years. Most reported having a stable partner (69.5%) and 75.2% had children. The treatment adherence levels were as follows: 53.2% (N = 75)—low, 33.3% (N = 47)—medium and 13.5% (N = 19)—high. Depression positively correlated with stigma. Stigma negatively correlated with patient-provider communication. Patient-provider communication positively correlated with treatment adherence. A significant negative indirect effect of depression on treatment adherence through stigma and patient-provider communication was found.

Conclusions

Perceived stigma and patient-provider communication played a mediating role in the relationships between depression and treatment adherence among women with fibromyalgia.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Addressing stigma related to fibromyalgia and effective patient-provider communication can positively influence treatment adherence.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

❌