Predicting family caregiver psychosocial functioning in palliative care

Background: Health professionals are expected to support family caregivers of patients requiring palliative care. However, there is a dearth of empirical evidence to help clinicians identify caregivers who might be at risk of poor psychosocial functioning. Purpose: This secondary analysis of baseline data from a larger study sought to determine if it was possible to predict the psychosocial functioning of family caregivers who were supporting a relative with advanced incurable cancer. Method. Data from 35 primary family caregivers obtained at the start of home-based palliative care services and five weeks later was used in the analysis. Instruments to measure caregiver preparedness, competence, mastery, social support, anxiety, and self-efficacy were used. Results: Cluster and logistic analyses revealed that self-reported anxiety and competence subscale total scores at time of commencement of home-based palliative care services were associated with caregivers at risk of lower levels of psychosocial functioning five weeks later. Conclusions: This study suggests that it may be possible to identify family caregivers who are at risk for poorer psychosocial functioning. However, replication in a larger sample is required before this screening approach can be recommended for clinical use.