Web-based Support for Family Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Cancer

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Narstaende.se: Web-site with supportive information, videos and chat forum targeting family caregivers of patients with life-threatening illness.

Study summary

For family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer, preparedness for caregiving is crucial for maintaining health and quality of life both during care and after the death of the patient. This project contributes to earlier research funded by the Swedish Cancer Society, about an intervention that was delivered by a multi-professional team and proved to be successful in promoting preparedness. However, such interventions are often costly and logistically challenging. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has further significantly raised the need for digital alternatives in healthcare. As a possible solution, an evidence-based intervention, narstaende.se, has been developed consisting of recorded videos of conversations between clinicians and family caregivers (actors), linked to informational texts and a moderated chat forum. The intervention was pilot tested during 2020 and 2021, exploring feasibility, content and family caregivers' experiences. As preliminary results are promising, the intervention is taken one step further and tested as a web-based intervention in a larger scale.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change in Preparedness for caregiving — At baseline (before intervention), change from baseline after 4-6 weeks (follow-up 1) and after 8-10 weeks (follow-up 2)
  Preparedness for caregiving scale (PCS)

Trial sites (1)

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