Browsing by Author "Ostroff, Jamie S."

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    Distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients: an examination of psychosocial and practical challenges
    (Springer, 2013-02) Mosher, Catherine E.; Jaynes, Heather A.; Hanna, Nasser; Ostroff, Jamie S.
    Purpose: Lung cancer and its treatment impose many demands on family caregivers, which may increase their risk for distress. However, little research has documented aspects of the caregiving experience that are especially challenging for distressed caregivers of lung cancer patients. This study aimed to explore caregivers' key challenges in coping with their family member's lung cancer. Methods: Single, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients. Results: Caregivers described three key challenges in coping with their family member's lung cancer. The most common challenge, identified by 38 % of caregivers, was a profound sense of uncertainty regarding the future as they attempted to understand the patient's prognosis and potential for functional decline. Another key challenge, identified by 33 % of caregivers, involved time-consuming efforts to manage the patient's emotional reactions to the illness. Other caregivers (14 %) characterized practical tasks, such as coordinating the patient's medical care, as their greatest challenge. Conclusions: Results suggest that clinical efforts are needed to assist distressed caregivers in providing practical and emotional support to the patient and attending to their own emotional needs.
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    Economic and Social Changes Among Distressed Family Caregivers of Lung Cancer Patients
    (Springer, 2013-03) Mosher, Catherine E.; Champion, Victoria L.; Azzoli, Christopher G.; Hanna, Nasser; Jalal, Shadia I.; Fakiris, Achilles J.; Birdas, Thomas J.; Okereke, Ikenna C.; Kesler, Kenneth A.; Einhorn, Lawrence H.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Ostroff, Jamie S.
    Purpose: Although costs of lung cancer care have been documented, economic and social changes among lung cancer patients' family caregivers have yet to be fully examined. In addition, research has not focused on caregivers with greater need for support services. This study examined various economic and social changes among distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients during the initial months of cancer care in the USA. Methods: Lung cancer patients' primary family caregivers with significant anxiety or depressive symptoms were recruited from three medical centers within 12 weeks of the patient's new oncology visit. Caregivers (N = 83) reported demographic and medical information and caregiving burden at baseline. Seventy-four caregivers reported anxiety and depressive symptoms and economic and social changes 3 months later. Results: Seventy-four percent of distressed caregivers experienced one or more adverse economic or social changes since the patient's illness. Common changes included caregivers' disengagement from most social and leisure activities (56%) and, among employed caregivers (n = 49), reduced hours of work (45%). In 18% of cases, a family member quit work or made another major lifestyle change due to caregiving. Additionally, 28% of caregivers reported losing the main source of family income, and 18% reported losing most or all of the family savings. Loss of the main source of family income and disengagement from most social and leisure activities predicted greater caregiver distress. Conclusions: Findings suggest that distressed caregivers of lung cancer patients experience high rates of adverse economic and social changes that warrant clinical and research attention.
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    Economic and Social Changes Among Distressed Family Caregivers of Lung Cancer Patients
    (Supportive Care in Cancer, 2013-03) Mosher, Catherine E.; Champion, Victoria L.; Azzoli, Christopher G.; Hanna, Nasser; Jalal, Shadia I.; Fakiris, Achilles J.; Birdas, Thomas J.; Okereke, Ikenna C.; Kesler, Kenneth A.; Einhorn, Lawrence H.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Ostroff, Jamie S.
    Purpose: Although costs of lung cancer care have been documented, economic and social changes among lung cancer patients' family caregivers have yet to be fully examined. In addition, research has not focused on caregivers with greater need for support services. This study examined various economic and social changes among distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients during the initial months of cancer care in the USA. Methods: Lung cancer patients' primary family caregivers with significant anxiety or depressive symptoms were recruited from three medical centers within 12 weeks of the patient's new oncology visit. Caregivers (N = 83) reported demographic and medical information and caregiving burden at baseline. Seventy-four caregivers reported anxiety and depressive symptoms and economic and social changes 3 months later. Results: Seventy-four percent of distressed caregivers experienced one or more adverse economic or social changes since the patient's illness. Common changes included caregivers' disengagement from most social and leisure activities (56%) and, among employed caregivers (n = 49), reduced hours of work (45%). In 18% of cases, a family member quit work or made another major lifestyle change due to caregiving. Additionally, 28% of caregivers reported losing the main source of family income, and 18% reported losing most or all of the family savings. Loss of the main source of family income and disengagement from most social and leisure activities predicted greater caregiver distress. Conclusions: Findings suggest that distressed caregivers of lung cancer patients experience high rates of adverse economic and social changes that warrant clinical and research attention.
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    Leveraging social media to increase lung cancer screening awareness, knowledge and uptake among high-risk populations (The INSPIRE-Lung Study): Study protocol of design and methods of a community-based randomized controlled trial
    (Research Square, 2023-05-04) Carter-Bawa, Lisa; Banerjee, Smita C.; Ostroff, Jamie S.; Kale, Minal S.; King, Jennifer C.; Leopold, Katherine T.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Slaven, James E., Jr.; Soylemez Wiener, Renda; Valenzona, Francis; Rawl, Susan M.; Comer, Robert Skipworth; Biostatistics and Health Data Science, School of Medicine
    Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States. The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) demonstrated that low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening can reduce lung cancer mortality among high-risk individuals, but uptake of lung screening remains low. Social media platforms have the potential to reach a large number of people, including those who are at high risk for lung cancer but who may not be aware of or have access to lung screening. Methods: This paper discusses the protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that leverages FBTA to reach screening-eligible individuals in the community at large and intervene with a public-facing, tailored health communication intervention (LungTalk) to increase awareness of, and knowledge about, lung screening. Discussion: This study will provide important information to inform the ability to re ne implementation processes for national population efforts to scale a public-facing health communication focused intervention using social media to increase screening uptake of appropriate, high-risk individuals.
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    Psychosocial adjustment of family caregivers of head and neck cancer survivors
    (Springer, 2009-04-24) Ross, Stephanie; Mosher, Catherine E.; Ronis-Tobin, Victor; Hermele, Sandy; Ostroff, Jamie S.
    This study examined the psychosocial adjustment and needs of family caregivers of head and neck cancer survivors at 6–24 months posttreatment.
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    Support Service Use and Interest in Support Services among Distressed Family Caregivers of Lung Cancer Patients
    (Wiley, 2013-07) Mosher, Catherine E.; Champion, Victoria L.; Hanna, Nasser; Jalal, Shadia I.; Fakiris, Achilles J.; Birdas, Thomas J.; Okereke, Ikenna C.; Kesler, Kenneth A.; Einhorn, Lawrence H.; Given, Barbara A.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Ostroff, Jamie S.
    Objective: This study examined support service use and interest in support services among distressed family caregivers of patients recently entering comprehensive cancer care facilities. Methods: Primary family caregivers of lung cancer patients (N=83) were recruited from three medical centers within 12 weeks of the patient's new visit to the oncology clinic. All family caregivers were screened for psychological distress, and those reporting significant anxiety or depressive symptoms were eligible for this study. Caregivers completed a baseline assessment of support service use (i.e., use of mental health services and complementary and alternative medicine [CAM]) and interest in support services. Support service use was also assessed 3 months later. Results: Although all caregivers reported clinically meaningful distress, only 26% used mental health and 39% used CAM services during the 3-month study period. Patients' receipt of chemotherapy was positively associated with caregivers' mental health service use, whereas greater education and receiving assistance with caregiving tasks were associated with CAM use. Forty percent of caregivers who did not use CAM at baseline were interested in CAM. In addition, 29% of caregivers who did not receive mental health services at baseline were interested in professional psychosocial support, and 29% of caregivers who did not receive staff assistance with practical needs at baseline were interested in this service. Conclusions: Findings suggest that distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients underuse mental health services and that a sizable minority are interested in professional help with psychosocial and practical needs.
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    Support Service Use and Interest in Support Services among Lung Cancer Patients
    (Wiley, 2013-10) Mosher, Catherine E.; Champion, Victoria L.; Hanna, Nasser; Jalal, Shadia I.; Fakiris, Achilles J.; Birdas, Thomas J.; Okereke, Ikenna C.; Kesler, Kenneth A.; Einhorn, Lawrence H.; Given, Barbara A.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Ostroff, Jamie S.
    Objective: This study examined support service use and interest in support services among distressed family caregivers of patients recently entering comprehensive cancer care facilities. Methods: Primary family caregivers of lung cancer patients (N=83) were recruited from three medical centers within 12 weeks of the patient's new visit to the oncology clinic. All family caregivers were screened for psychological distress, and those reporting significant anxiety or depressive symptoms were eligible for this study. Caregivers completed a baseline assessment of support service use (i.e., use of mental health services and complementary and alternative medicine [CAM]) and interest in support services. Support service use was also assessed 3 months later. Results: Although all caregivers reported clinically meaningful distress, only 26% used mental health and 39% used CAM services during the 3-month study period. Patients' receipt of chemotherapy was positively associated with caregivers' mental health service use, whereas greater education and receiving assistance with caregiving tasks were associated with CAM use. Forty percent of caregivers who did not use CAM at baseline were interested in CAM. In addition, 29% of caregivers who did not receive mental health services at baseline were interested in professional psychosocial support, and 29% of caregivers who did not receive staff assistance with practical needs at baseline were interested in this service. Conclusions: Findings suggest that distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients underuse mental health services and that a sizable minority are interested in professional help with psychosocial and practical needs.