Poster Presentation COSA 2015 ASM

Acceptability and utility of a telephone outcall program for carers of persons diagnosed with cancer (#311)

Leila Heckel 1 , Kate M Fennell 2 3 , Mari Botti 1 4 , John Reynolds 5 , Jacquie Chirgwin 6 7 , David M Ashley 8 , Richard H Osborne 1 , Anna Boltong 9 10 , Katherine Simons 11 , Patricia M Livingston 1
  1. Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
  2. Cancer Council South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  3. Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  4. Epworth HealthCare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia
  5. Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  6. Oncology, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
  7. Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
  8. The Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
  9. Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  10. Melbourne School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  11. North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia

To evaluate acceptability and utility of a telephone outcall program to reduce burden and depression among carers of persons newly diagnosed with cancer.

From August 2013 to December 2014, 216 carer/person with cancer dyads were recruited from four Australian health services and randomised to an intervention or control arm. In the intervention group (n=108), carers received three telephone outcalls (mean call duration: 3min) from a Cancer Council Helpline nurse at three time points (7-10 days after recruitment, 1 and 3 months later). Carers were screened for distress using the Distress Thermometer (range: 0-10) and given tailored information and support. Carers with a distress score of ≥4 were referred to their GP for follow up. Participants completed a utility survey one month post-intervention. In the control group (n=108), carers received three sham outcalls (mean call duration: 22min) at the same time points as the intervention group and were provided with the Cancer Council Helpline number to contact as needed. Participants in the control arm who chose to contact the Cancer Council Helpline received usual support provided by Helpline nurses (not the outcall program).

Among carers receiving the outcall program, six (5%) withdrew from the study; 34 (31%) did not respond to the survey. Of the remaining 68 responders, 54% were female with the majority (81%) caring for their spouse/partner; mean age of carers was 58 years. The majority (94%) stated it was worth their time and effort to participate in the outcall program; 73% indicated the program was very relevant to them.  Fifty-two (88%) reported the calls helped them think things through and think more positively about their situation (81%), reduce their worries (79%), and understand cancer better (60%).

This outcall program is highly acceptable and of perceived benefit for carers who are supporting others with cancer through early stages of treatment.