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Family caregivers of those with cancer: Quality of life
outcomes from a sequential multiple
assignment randomized trial
Primary data collection refers to data collected
directly by researchers for analysis. Yet the
existence of previously collected data can lead https://cmu.to/BprAt
to the potential for further investigation driven
by new research questions. Dr. Kanjana Thana
conceived this secondary data analysis on the
basis that the original study had focused on Reflexology refers to a hands-on therapy,
patient outcomes, while she aimed to explore applied mainly to the feet in this case. MP
caregiver outcomes. included mind-body activities which allow the
practitioner to be in tune with their thoughts,
As Dr. Kanjana explained, nurses are formal feelings and bodies. Both interventions
caregivers. Yet, increasingly, caregiving is required training provided by experts to
moving from formal to informal contexts, with prepare both patients and caregivers to
many people with cancer and their families participate effectively. Moreover, the SMART
choosing home care. This shift requires approach allowed for analysis of the interventions
healthcare professionals to understand care- at different points over the study period, giving
givers’ quality of life and the burdens that can the researchers a better idea of how these
arise from their care provision. Therefore, quality treatments worked together, as well as
of life outcomes of informal home caregivers separately, and what they meant for caregiver
require increased attention, as caregiving burden over the 12-week implementation.
burden can be difficult to cope with.
Some important conclusions were drawn from
The parent study, funded by the National this secondary data analysis, and these are
Cancer Institute (USA) and employing a useful for health professionals in designing or
sequential multiple assignment randomized recommending options for caregivers of
trial (SMART) methodology, collected data on cancer patients. It appeared that caregiver
patient/caregiver dyads in three locations in burden was increased in the case of moving
the United States. Using SMART can be advan- from MP to reflexology in caregiving. This
tageous, especially for studies in which multiple could be the result of gaining an added task,
interventions are used and in different orders. as well as the necessity for more coordination
This context involved caregivers participating when doing hands-on caregiving as opposed
in, and receiving, interventions via two to the individual nature of MP. Additionally,
different therapies: reflexology and meditative adding MP to reflexology resulted in reduced
practices (MP). quality of life for caregivers, demonstrating
that a single intervention worked better than
using more than one.
An undoubted takeaway from Dr. Kanjana’s
analysis, however, is that nurses who are
involved with planning for home caregiving for
cancer patients need to be able to balance the
caregiving tasks with managing caregivers’
quality of life. As many Thai families might
also prefer home caregiving for family
members with cancer, the undertaking of
similar studies in the Thai context could prove
4 Research Wisdom a suitable option for further research.
Volume 9 | June 2022
