FOCUS Program: Treating Patients With Cancer and Family Caregivers as a Unit of Care

• Published in: Clinical journal of oncology nursing Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. E17 - E25
• Main Authors: Chen, Hui Ling, Annie Kao, Tsui-Sui, Reuille, Kristina M, Northouse, Laurel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oncology Nursing Society 01-06-2021
• Subjects: Ambulatory medical care; Cancer patients; Care and treatment; Caregivers; Domestic relations; Health aspects; Methods; Nursing; Oncologic nursing; Social aspects; United States; quality of life; coping; self-efficacy; dyadic intervention; psychosocial education
• ISSN: 1092-1095; 1538-067X
• DOI: 10.1188/21.CJON.E17-E25

Studies indicate that patients' and caregivers' responses to illness are interdependent; each person affects the other. Existing evidence reinforces the need to recognize family caregivers as equal recipients of care and support.
This evidence-based pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the nurse-guided, psychoeducational, family-based FOCUS program intervention at a local oncology outpatient clinic.
30 patient-caregiver dyads were recruited from a local oncology clinic. Intervention delivery occurred using home visits and telephone calls. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess participants' self-efficacy, quality of life (QOL), and coping pre- and postintervention, and intervention satisfaction postintervention. Three tailored psychosocial education sessions were held during a 6- to 9-week period.
Significant changes in outcomes were found, including increased self-efficacy in both patients and caregivers, higher QOL in caregivers, and decreased use of substances for coping in patients. There was a trend for patients' emotional well-being to improve over time; other aspects of QOL showed little change. There were no significant changes in caregivers' coping.