Cancer caregiver anxiety over time: The influence of palliative care

Cancer caregiver anxiety over time: The influence of palliative care
Journal of Palliative Care; Laura A Siminoff, PhD; Maureen Wilson-Genderson, PhD; Marcin Chwistek, MD, FAAHPM; Maria D Thomson, PhD; 10/24
Our analysis detected 3 distinct cancer caregiver groups reporting low, elevated, and very high levels of anxiety. Caregivers with elevated or high anxiety also demonstrated increasing anxiety overtime; however increases were attenuated with patient receipt of palliative care. For cancer caregivers with elevated and high levels of anxiety, palliative care buffers further deterioration of their mental health. Caregivers with the lowest level of anxiety were more likely to be Black, report fewer symptoms of depression or caregiver burden and higher self-rated physical health. Caregivers who were younger reported higher anxiety.