ASPO Abstracts
Oncology Clinician Perspectives on Supporting Cancer Caregivers: Results from an NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Cross-Sectional Survey Study (WF-1803CD)
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2023
Abstract Body:
Purpose: Informal cancer caregivers provide complex care in the home setting and experience substantial physical and emotional burdens. Improving caregiver outcomes may depend on clinicians' abilities to identify caregiver needs and facilitate referrals to needed services. This study sought to describe clinician perceptions and preferences for caregiver support practices in the community setting. Methods: We recruited physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs) and nurses in NCORP practices using a random sampling process based on practice size stratified by clinician type. A cross-sectional survey assessed clinician knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to addressing caregiver concerns and interest in caregiver services. Weighted percentages were calculated overall and by clinician type accounting for clustering. Results: We enrolled 124 practices (82% multi-specialty, 8% academic, 39% safety net) and 781 clinicians (54% nurses, 18% APPs, 27% physicians). Clinicians reported high perceived importance and responsibility in assessing caregivers' psychosocial (90% and 73%, respectively) and patient care needs (95% and 81%, respectively). However, approximately half of clinicians reported low/moderate self-efficacy in detecting caregiver depression (49%), assessing problems between patients and caregivers (48%) and providing resources (43%). Clinicians reported an average of 9/16 unique major/moderate barriers to implementing caregiver services; the most common barriers rated major/moderate included: other issues being higher priority (65%), lack of process to assess caregiver needs (64%), time constraints (66%), and lack of resources (60%). High interest was endorsed for providing a variety of caregiver services (mean number very/extremely interested=7/13). Nurses reported having the necessary skills to support caregivers (65% agree/strongly agree) followed by APPs (61%) and physicians (39%); a similar pattern was observed for self-efficacy, responsibility and barriers. Conclusions: Oncology clinicians report high importance and responsibility for caring for caregivers, but need support to enhance their skills. Improved infrastructure, communication strategies and workflows are needed to address practice barriers and capitalize on clinicians' positive attitudes.
Keywords: caregiver; oncology clinicians; supportive care interventions