Feasibility and Acceptability of an 8-Week Supportive Care Intervention for Cancer Caregivers Adapted for Rural...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Rural Health
• Caregiver Support

Background:

• Rural residents disproportionately serve as caregivers for cancer patients, facing unique burdens.
• Tailored interventions are crucial to address the complex needs of these rural caregivers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of an adapted social support intervention for rural cancer caregivers.
• Assessing the enCompass Carolina program's impact on caregiver well-being and support.

Main Methods:

• An 8-week one-on-one caregiver coaching program (enCompass Carolina) with a web-based support tool.
• Recruitment of caregivers via patients in infusion clinics; outcomes measured at baseline, 4, and 8 weeks.
• Feasibility assessed by participation/completion rates; acceptability by ratings; outcomes analyzed using generalized estimating equations.

Main Results:

• 44% of invited caregivers participated; 75% completed the 8-week intervention.
• High acceptability ratings (4.6/5) were reported.
• Significant improvements observed in caregiver coping self-efficacy, anxiety, and depression; no significant changes in burden or social support.

Conclusions:

• The enCompass Carolina coaching program is a feasible and acceptable intervention for rural cancer caregivers.
• The program shows promise as an intervention for future efficacy testing in larger studies.