Support Program Evaluating Nurse-Led Caregiver Assistance for Older Adults with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Their Families

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying older adults who have been newly diagnosed with locally advanced or advanced non-small cell lung cancer and their primary family caregivers. The study aims to understand the current physical and emotional challenges these patients and caregivers face, as well as to evaluate the effects of a specialized Nurse-Led Caregiver Support Model ICSM designed to improve caregiver quality of life and resource use. The study has two phases over three years. Phase I is a cross-sectional study assessing distress, unmet needs, social support, and health practices among patients and caregivers. Phase II is a 12-month randomized trial comparing two groups one receiving the ICSM plus oncology case manager care and usual hospital care, and the other receiving oncology case manager care with usual hospital care. The ICSM intervention includes nurse-led education, counseling, symptom management, emotional coping, problem-solving, social resource use, caregiving activity planning, and access to a web-based or mobile resource platform. Participants will be assessed at the start and at multiple points up to 12 months after their first cancer treatment. Researchers will measure changes in caregiver quality of life, resource use, strain, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, as well as patient quality of life and supportive care needs. The study involves questionnaires, interviews, and resource utilization tracking to monitor the effects of the intervention and supportive care over time.

Nurse-Led Caregiver Support for Older Adults With Advanced Lung Cancer