How illness affects family members: a qualitative interview survey

Spillover effects of illness on family members can be substantial. The objective of this study was to identify the domains of family members' health and well-being that are affected when a relative has a chronic health condition.

Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted in February 2012 with 49 individuals whose relatives had any of five chronic health conditions (arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease/dementia, cerebral palsy, and depression), purposively sampled to include different relationships with the ill relative (parent, child, spouse). Subjects were queried on whether and how having an ill relative affected their health and well-being; they were also asked about their caregiving responsibilities and the relative's health. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Family members in our sample reported experiencing psychological and non-health effects from having an ill relative, and secondarily somatic effects. Effects on emotional health were most commonly reported as psychological spillover; non-health effects frequently included changes in daily activities and provision of caregiving. Spouses of patients reported the broadest range of spillover domains affected and adolescents of ill parents the fewest. Family members reported experiencing effects that were perceived as both positive and negative.

Spillover of illness onto family members encompasses a wide range of domains of health and well-being, extending beyond those included in many existing health-related quality of life measures. Outcomes measurement efforts should be expanded to adequately capture these health and well-being outcomes for analysis, to ensure that the benefits of interventions are accurately estimated and conclusions are valid.