Palos et al identified predictors for high symptoms burden in caregivers of patient with cancer. The study was done on underserved patients with limited financial resources. The authors are from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Patient selection: underserved patient with an advanced solid cancer
Assessment Instrument: M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory
Outcome: moderate to severe sadness and distress in the caregiver
Predictors of a high symptom burden:
(1) The patient is a family member (OR 8)
(2) The patient has a high symptom burden (OR 4).
where:
• In the implementation a moderate symptom burden group was added with an intermediate odds ratio.
A caregiver for an underserved patient with one or both of the predictors may benefit from an intervention to reduce the emotional and physical burden.
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