Efficacy of a dyadic intervention to improve communication between patients with cancer and their caregivers: A randomized pilot trial.

Abstract

Cancer-related communication is critical for patients' and caregivers' adaptation to illness. This randomized pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a specific dyadic intervention to improve communication. A four weekly-session intervention was developed to reinforce cancer-related patient-caregiver communication. Patients receiving treatment for any diagnosed cancer, and their caregivers, were recruited from two oncology clinics in Belgium. Sixty-four patient-caregiver dyads were assigned randomly to intervention and waitlist groups. Cancer-related dyadic communication, dyadic coping and emotional distress were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The intervention attrition rate was 6 %. Linear mixed models were performed on 60 dyads. Significant two-way group × time interaction indicated improvement in participants' cancer-related dyadic communication frequency (β = -1.30; SE = 0.31; p =  .004), self-efficacy (β = -10.03; SE = 3.90; p =  .011) and dyadic coping (β = -5.93; SE = 2.73; p =  .046) after the intervention. These results indicate that the brief dyadic communication intervention is feasible and acceptable, and show preliminary evidence of efficacy. Encouraging patients and caregivers to discuss personal cancer-related concerns may improve their ability to cope with the illness together.