1. Supporting caregivers during hematopoietic cell transplantation for children with primary immunodeficiency disorders
- Author
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E. Anne Lown, Veronica Yank, Sumathi Iyengar, Morton J. Cowan, Morna J. Dorsey, Christina Mangurian, Meghan C. Halley, Katherine Ort, Christopher Scalchunes, Jennie Yoo, and Heather Smith
- Subjects
Male ,Coping (psychology) ,Allergy ,primary immune deficiency ,0302 clinical medicine ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,well-being [psychosocial support] ,Health care ,Immunology and Allergy ,Child ,caregiver ,media_common ,Pediatric ,Hematopoietic cell transplantation ,Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ,Middle Aged ,Quality Improvement ,Mental Health ,Caregivers ,Feeling ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Female ,Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Immunology ,Stress ,Article ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Clinical Research ,Respite care ,Behavioral and Social Science ,medicine ,Humans ,Sibling ,Transplantation ,Descriptive statistics ,business.industry ,Psychosocial Support Systems ,Mental health ,Good Health and Well Being ,Socioeconomic Factors ,Family medicine ,Quality of Life ,Psychological ,business ,Delivery of Health Care ,Stress, Psychological ,030215 immunology - Abstract
Background Caregivers of children with primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs) experience significant psychological distress during their child's hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) process. Objectives This study aims to understand caregiver challenges and identify areas for health care system-level improvements to enhance caregiver well-being. Methods In this mixed-methods study caregivers of children with PIDs were contacted in August to November 2017 through online and electronic mailing lists of rare disease consortiums and foundations. Caregivers were invited to participate in an online survey assessing sociodemographic variables, the child's medical characteristics, psychosocial support use, and the World Health Organization–5 Well-Being Index. Open-ended questions about health care system improvements were included. Descriptive statistics and linear multivariate regression analyses were conducted. A modified content analysis method was used to code responses and identify emergent themes. Results Among the 80 caregiver respondents, caregivers had a median age of 34 years (range, 23-62 years) and were predominantly female, white, and married with male children given a diagnosis of severe combined immune deficiency. In the adjusted regression model lower caregiver well-being was significantly associated with lower household income and medical complications. Challenges during HCT include maintaining relationships with partners and the child's healthy sibling or siblings, managing self-care, and coping with feelings of uncertainty. Caregivers suggested several organizational-level solutions to enhance psychosocial support, including respite services, online connections to other PID caregivers, and bedside mental health services. Conclusions Certain high-risk subpopulations of caregivers might need more targeted psychosocial support to reduce the long-term effect of the HCT experience on their well-being. Caregivers suggested several organizational-level solutions for provision of this support.
- Published
- 2019
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