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Validation of a model of family caregiver communication types and related caregiver outcomes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2016

Elaine Wittenberg ,
Kate Kravits ,
Joy Goldsmith ,
Betty Ferrell  and
Rebecca Fujinami
Elaine Wittenberg*
Affiliation:
Division of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
Kate Kravits
Affiliation:
Division of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
Joy Goldsmith
Affiliation:
Department of Communication, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee
Betty Ferrell
Affiliation:
Division of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
Rebecca Fujinami
Affiliation:
Division of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Elaine Wittenberg, City of Hope National Medical Center, Division of Nursing Research and Education, 1500 East Duarte Road, Popular Science Building 173, Duarte, California 91010. E-mail: ewittenberg@coh.org.
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Abstract

Objective:

Caring for the family is included as one of the eight domains of quality palliative care, calling attention to the importance of the family system and family communications about cancer during care and treatment of the disease. Previously, a model of family caregiver communication defined four caregiver communication types—Manager, Carrier, Partner, Lone—each with a unique communication pattern. The purpose of the present study was to extend the model of family caregiver communication in cancer care to further understand the impact of family communication burden on caregiving outcomes.

Method:

This mixed-method study employed fieldnotes from a family caregiver intervention focused on quality of life and self-reported caregiver communication items to identify a specific family caregiver type. Caregiver types were then analyzed using outcome measures on psychological distress, skills preparedness, family inventory of needs, and quality-of-life domains.

Results:

Corroboration between fieldnotes and self-reported communication for caregivers (n = 21, 16 women, mean age of 53 years) revealed a definitive classification of the four caregiver types (Manager = 6, Carrier = 5, Partner = 6, Lone = 4). Mean scores on self-reported communication items documented different communication patterns congruent with the theoretical framework of the model. Variation in caregiver outcomes measures confirmed the model of family caregiver communication types. Partner and Lone caregivers reported the lowest psychological distress, with Carrier caregivers feeling least prepared and Manager caregivers reporting the lowest physical quality of life.

Significance of results:

This study illustrates the impact of family communication on caregiving and increases our knowledge and understanding about the role of communication in caregiver burden. The research provides the first evidence-based validation for a family caregiver communication typology and its relationship to caregiver outcomes. Future research is needed to develop and test interventions that target specific caregiver types.

Keywords

Family caregiverCancer caregiverCommunicationMixed methods
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 3 - 11
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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