Abstract
PURPOSE: Many partners of incurably ill cancer patients experience caregiver burden. The eHealth application "Oncokompas" supports these partners to manage their caregiver needs and to find optimal supportive care for themselves. The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to investigate the reach of Oncokompas and its efficacy on caregiver burden, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
METHODS: The reach was estimated based on eligibility, participation rate, and an evaluation of the recruitment process. Efficacy on caregiver burden was measured using the Caregiver Strain Index + (CSI +). Secondary outcomes were self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)) and HRQOL (EQ-5D VAS). Assessments were scheduled at baseline, 2 weeks after randomization and 3 months after baseline. Linear mixed models were used to compare longitudinal changes between the experimental and control group from baseline to the 3-month follow-up.
RESULTS: The reach, in terms of eligibility and participation rate, was estimated at 83-91%. Partners were most likely reached via palliative care consultants, patient organizations, and palliative care networks. In the one-and-a-half-year recruitment period and via the 101 organizations involved, 58 partners were included. There were no significant effects of Oncokompas on caregiver burden, self-efficacy, or HRQOL.
CONCLUSION: The reach of Oncokompas among interested individuals was high, but the difficulties that were encountered to include partners suggest that the reach in real life may be lower. This study showed no effect of Oncokompas on caregiver burden, self-efficacy, or HRQOL in partners of incurably ill cancer patients.
RELEVANCE: The results of this study may be used in the process of developing, efficacy testing, and implementing eHealth applications for caregivers of incurably ill cancer patients.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register identifier: NTR7636/NL7411. Registered on November 23, 2018 ( https://www.trialregister.nl/ ).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 10191-10201 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Supportive Care in Cancer |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 12 |
Early online date | 11 Nov 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2022 |
Bibliographical note
© 2022. The Author(s).Funding
This research is supported by a grant from ZonMw, The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (project number: 844001105). The study and its design were critically revised by ZonMw during the grant application process. ZonMw plays no part in the data collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data, the writing of the report, and the decision to submit the report for publication. IMVdL is named as the inventor of Oncokompas, the self-management application that was examined in this study. IMVdL reports grants from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) (project number: 844001105) and the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF Kankerbestrijding) (project number: VUP2014-7202). The other authors declare no competing interests.
Funders | Funder number |
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ZonMw | 844001105 |
KWF Kankerbestrijding | VUP2014-7202 |
Keywords
- Humans
- Caregivers
- Self-Management/methods
- Telemedicine/methods
- Neoplasms/therapy
- Palliative Care/methods
- Quality of Life