A PROBLEM-SOLVING INTERVENTION FOR CAREGIVERS OF CANCER-PATIENTS

Effects of a psychosocial intervention program on spouses of cancer pa tients, and on the cancer patients themselves, will be described. A si x session intervention program, which included support, problem-solvin g and coping skills, was designed to help spouses to cope with the str ess of caring for their partner. Forty male and forty female spouses o f cancer patients of a regional oncology center were randomly assigned to intervention or usual treatment conditions. Spouses and patients w ere interviewed prior to intervention, and within two weeks after inte rvention on a battery of assessment instruments including: (1) demogra phic variables; (2) psychological variables; (3) health status; (4) so cial supports; (5) assessment of pressing problems; (6) coping skills; (7) burden levels; and (8) marital satisfaction. Participants were fo und to be more psychologically distresed than the general population b ut were not as distressed as psychiatric outpatients. Differences were also found in marital satisfaction and coping activities, when compar ed to the general population. No significant differences between the c onditions were found on any of the measures. Caregivers' level of care giving activities proved to be low. It is suggested that this may acco unt for why the intervention only appeared effective for a distressed subsample of the caregivers in the study. The implications of these fi ndings is discussed. Recommendations are also made for future research on cancer caregivers.