Trajectories of emotional functioning and experienced care of relatives in the last year of life of patients with advanced cancer: A longitudinal analysis of the eQuiPe study

Laurien Ham*, Heidi P. Fransen, Natasja J.H. Raijmakers, Marieke H.J. van den Beuken-van Everdingen, Ben van den Borne, Geert Jan Creemers, Alexander de Graeff, Mathijs P. Hendriks, Wouter K. de Jong, Hanneke van Laarhoven, Lobke van Leeuwen, Annemieke van der Padt - Pruijsten, Tineke J. Smilde, Margriet Stellingwerf, Lia van Zuylen, Lonneke V. van de Poll - Franse

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Advanced cancer has a major impact on both patients and their relatives. To allow for personalized support, it is important to recognize which relatives will experience a decline in emotional functioning during the patient's last year of life, when this decline will occur, and what factors are associated with it. This study aimed to examine the trajectory of emotional functioning of relatives during that time and the characteristics associated with changes in this trajectory. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational study in patients with advanced cancer and their relatives was conducted (eQuiPe). We analyzed relatives' changes in emotional functioning in the patient's last year using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and assessed associations with sociodemographic and care characteristics using multivariable mixed-effects analysis. Results: 409 relatives completed ≥1 questionnaires during the patient's last year of life. Mean age was 64 years, 61% were female and 75% were the patient's partner. During this year, mean emotional functioning declined significantly over time from 73.9 to 64.6 (p = 0.023, effect size = 0.43). The type of relationship between relatives and patients (p = 0.002), patient’ sleep problems (p = 0.033), and continuity of care (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with changes in emotional functioning. Conclusions: Relatives' emotional functioning declined during the patient's last year of life. Support for them, especially partners and relatives of patients with sleep problems, is important. Relatives who experienced more continuity of care had a less steep decline in emotional functioning.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1858-1866
Number of pages9
JournalPsycho-Oncology
Volume32
Issue number12
Early online date26 Oct 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023

Keywords

  • cancer
  • death
  • longitudinal
  • oncology
  • palliative care
  • psycho-oncology
  • quality of life
  • relatives

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