Employment outcomes, anxiety, and depression among caregivers of African American cancer survivors.

Authors

null

Theresa A. Hastert

Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI

Theresa A. Hastert, Julie J. Ruterbusch, Kendra L. Schwartz, Felicity W. K. Harper, Tara Baird, Jennifer Lynn Beebe-Dimmer, Ann G. Schwartz

Organizations

Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI

Research Funding

Other Foundation
American Cancer Society, Other Foundation.

Background: Cancer patients commonly rely on loved ones to act as informal caregivers during and after treatment. Caregivers may need to take time off work or make other employment changes to handle caregiving demands. Employment changes due to caregiving and their impacts on psychological outcomes are not well understood, especially among caregivers of African American cancer survivors. Methods: Results include information from caregivers of participants in the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) cohort, a population-based study of African American survivors of breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer from Metropolitan Detroit. ROCS participants nominated a friend or family member who acted as a caregiver to participate in the caregiver study. Caregivers provided information on employment and PROMIS depression and anxiety measures. The relationship between work outcomes and anxiety/depression was assessed using logistic regression models controlling for age, sex, income, and the caregiver’s relationship to the survivor. Results: For the first 350 caregivers enrolled, more than half (56%) were employed (42% full time, 14% part time) at the time of the survivor’s diagnosis. 53% of employed caregivers took time off work, including 40% who took unpaid time off to provide care. 16% took one month or more off work, including 12% who took at least one month of unpaid time. Taking at least one month off was associated with 2.3 (95% CI: 1.0, 5.4) times the odds of depressive symptoms but was not associated with anxiety. Extended unpaid time off was not associated with depression or anxiety. 38% of employed caregivers reported that it was somewhat, very or extremely difficult to balance work and caregiving. Difficulty balancing work and caregiving was associated with 3.1 times the odds of depressive symptoms (95% CI: 1.5, 6.2), and 2.2 times the odds of any anxiety (95% CI: 1.1, 4.3) compared with those who reported little or no difficulty. Conclusions: Difficulty balancing work and caregiving is common among caregivers of African American cancer survivors, and is associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Supports for caregivers facing employment challenges may improve their psychosocial wellbeing.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2019 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Patient Experience; Safety; Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care

Track

Patient Experience,Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care,Safety

Sub Track

Caregiver Burden and Well-being

Citation

J Clin Oncol 37, 2019 (suppl 27; abstr 175)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2019.37.27_suppl.175

Abstract #

175

Poster Bd #

B6

Abstract Disclosures

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