DIFFERENCES IN MOOD STATES, HEALTH-STATUS, AND CAREGIVER STRAIN BETWEEN FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF ONCOLOGY OUTPATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT CANCER-RELATED PAIN

The purposes of this study were to determine if there are differences in the mood states, health status, and caregiver strain between family caregivers of oncology outpatients with and without cancer-related pa in. A convenience sample of 86 family caregivers of patients with canc er-related pain and 42 caregivers of pain-free patients participated i n this study. Family caregivers of patients with cancer-related pain s cored significantly higher on the tension and depression subscales of the Profile of Mood States and had a significantly higher total mood d isturbance score than did caregivers of pain-free patients. Although f amily caregivers of patients with pain had lower health status scores and higher caregiver strain scores than caregivers of pain-free patien ts, these differences were not statistically significant. The results of this study suggest that the presence of pain in a cancer patient ad versely affects the mood states of family caregivers, particularly the ir level of depression and anxiety, and that health care professionals need to assess to psychological needs of family members caring for ca ncer patients experiencing pain. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee , 1997.