Outcomes of a nurse-delivered psychosocial intervention for weight- and eating-related distress in family carers of patients with advanced cancer
BACKGROUND: International expert consensus is that psychosocial intervention is likely to help advanced cancer patients and their family carers affected by weight loss and poor appetite. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential for a psychosocial intervention, the Macmillan Approach to Weight and Eati...
Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2013-03-21.
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get fulltext |
Summary: | BACKGROUND: International expert consensus is that psychosocial intervention is likely to help advanced cancer patients and their family carers affected by weight loss and poor appetite. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential for a psychosocial intervention, the Macmillan Approach to Weight and Eating (MAWE), to mitigate weight- and eating-related distress in carers of patients with advanced cancer. METHOD: A controlled before and after study was conducted with carers of advanced cancer patients living in the community in the South of England in 2006-7. It used mixed methods to compare carers exposed to MAWE (n=12) with a control group (n=14). RESULTS: Weight- and eating-related distress improved in carers exposed to MAWE. Qualitative analysis found that MAWE may help carers by providing information, reassurance, and support for self-management. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study of MAWE suggests that it provides benefits as a supportive intervention. Further testing is warranted using a more robust experimental design. |
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