CHESS Caregivers Study: Web-based Support for Informal Caregivers in Cancer
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Web-Based Support for Informal Caregivers in Cancer Brief Summary (including hypothesis):
Informal caregivers need information, skills and emotional support to address physical, spiritual, and emotional needs associated with chronic illnesses including late stage cancer. Unfortunately, current conditions force clinicians to reduce their interaction time with patients and informal caregivers. Complimentary methods must be developed to provide needed information and support to caregivers. The proposed research will measure and explain the impact of two computer-based support systems that meet caregiver needs and facilitate information exchange with clinicians. The system, CHESS (Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System) is a non-commercial computer system that provides patients with disease specific information, emotional support and skill building tools. In the expanded form to be tested in this study, CHESS with Caregiver Support (CGCHESS) will also provide the caregiver with more information, support and skills training related to palliative care. CGCHESS will be further enhanced to communicate essential patient and caregiver information to clinicians prior to a scheduled clinic visit and when patient symptoms exceed a threshold.
The investigators' primary hypothesis is that CGCHESS + Clinician Report (CR) will reduce caregiver burden more than CGCHESS because of the additional support caregivers and patients receive from clinicians who have access to the CHESS clinician report. Secondary analyses will study the mechanisms of the CHESS effect. Specifically the investigators anticipate that the CHESS effect on caregivers will be mediated by the CHESS effect on interaction patterns with clinicians, satisfaction with clinical visits and by the CHESS effect on four patient outcomes (quality of life, negative affect, average severity of nine common late-stage cancers).
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Other: 1 internet access and computer for 1 year |
Behavioral: computer with internet
computer with internet use x 1 year
|
| Experimental: 2 computer and Full CHESS |
Behavioral: Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System
Full CHESS
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Improve caregiver burden [every 2 months]
- Improve affect, coping, self-efficacy and information competence [every 2 months]
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Mechanisms of CHESS effects [every 2 months]
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Metastatic breast or prostate cancer patients and their primary caregivers
Exclusion Criteria:
- Cannot be homeless
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin | Madison | Wisconsin | United States | 53706 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: David Gustafson, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- DuBenske LL, Burke Beckjord E, Hawkins RP, Gustafson DH. Psychometric evaluation of the Health Information Orientation Scale: a brief measure for assessing health information engagement and apprehension. J Health Psychol. 2009 Sep;14(6):721-30. doi: 10.1177/1359105309338892.
- DuBenske LL, Gustafson DH, Shaw BR, Cleary JF. Web-based cancer communication and decision making systems: connecting patients, caregivers, and clinicians for improved health outcomes. Med Decis Making. 2010 Nov-Dec;30(6):732-44. doi: 10.1177/0272989X10386382. Epub 2010 Nov 1.
- 2002-436
- 1R01NR008260-01