Caregivers' participation in the oncology clinic visit mediates the relationship between their information competence and their need fulfillment and clinic visit satisfaction

Lori L. DuBenske, Ming Yuan Chih, David H. Gustafson, Susan Dinauer, James F. Cleary

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Caregivers maintain critical roles in cancer patient care. Understanding cancer-related information effects both caregiver involvement and ability to have needs met. This study examines the mediating role caregiver's clinic visit involvement has on the relationships between caregiver's information competence and their need fulfillment and clinic visit satisfaction. Methods: Secondary analysis of 112 advanced lung, breast, and prostate cancer caregivers participating in a large clinical trial. Caregiver information competence was assessed at pretest. Involvement, need fulfillment, and visit satisfaction were assessed immediately following the clinic appointment. Results: Involvement correlated with information competence (r=.21, p<.05), need fulfillment (r=.48, p<.001), and satisfaction (r=.35, p<.001). The correlation between information competence and need fulfillment (r=.26, p<.01) decreased when controlling for involvement (r=.19, p=.049), demonstrating mediation, and accounted for 24.4% of the variance in need fulfillment. The correlation between information competence and satisfaction (r=.21, p=.04), decreased and was non-significant when controlling for involvement (r=.15, p=.11), demonstrating mediation, and accounted for 13% of variance in visit satisfaction. Conclusion: Caregiver's clinic visit involvement mediates the relationships between their information competence and their need fulfillment and visit satisfaction. Practice implications: Efforts to improve the caregiving experience, and potentially patient outcomes, should focus on system-wide approaches to facilitating caregivers' involvement and assertiveness in clinical encounters.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S94-S99
JournalPatient Education and Counseling
Volume81
Issue numberSUPPL. 1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2010

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding for this study was provided through grants from the National Cancer Institute (1 P50 CA095817-01A1) and the National Institute of Nursing Research (RO1 NR008260-01), with no involvement in study design, conduct, or manuscript preparation. NCI requested this special journal edition to highlight the work of their Centers of Excellence in Cancer Communication Research.

Keywords

  • Cancer
  • Caregiver
  • Information
  • Involvement
  • Need fulfillment
  • Satisfaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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