A Multi-center Investigation of Family Health, Needs, Perceived Support, Self-efficacy and Quality of Life During the Cancer Trajectory: A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study Among Danish Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how cancer affects the health and well-being of both patients and their families throughout the cancer journey. This study focuses on family health, needs, perceived support, quality of life, self-efficacy, depression, stress, and resilience among patients with breast, prostate, colorectal cancer, or lymphoma and their caregivers. The goal is to identify families who are particularly burdened or vulnerable and understand the factors contributing to their vulnerability. Participants include 240 patients and their appointed adult caregivers recruited from six Danish hospital departments. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining a longitudinal survey and family interviews. Patients and caregivers complete questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months, assessing various aspects such as family health, support, quality of life, self-efficacy, depression, distress, and resilience. A subset of families participates in interviews at 3 and 12 months to explore their experiences and needs more deeply. During the study, participants will fill out validated questionnaires including the Family Health Scale, ICE Family Perceived Support Questionnaires, EQ-5D-5L, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Distress Thermometer, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The interviews will be conducted in person, at home, or online, lasting about one hour. Researchers will analyze the data to better understand family dynamics and identify vulnerable families, monitoring family health outcomes over a one-year period.

A Multi-center Investigation of Family Health.