Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Glioma carers- Assessment of Individual Needs and Support (The GAINS study): A single arm pilot study of nurse-led support for carers of people with high-grade glioma (HGG)  [HREC: 89349] (#392)

Diana Jones 1 2 , Raymond J Chan 1 2 3 , Mark B Pinkham 2 3 , Carla Thamm 1 2 , Vanessa Beesley 3 4 , Matthew P Wallen 1 5
  1. Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. Cancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  4. Supportive Care in Cancer Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
  5. School of Science, Psychology and Sport, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC, Australia

Introduction: A diagnosis of high-grade glioma (HGG) can have devastating impacts for patients and their carers, with carers reporting diverse unmet needs and significant distress. Our recent systematic review identified no supportive care interventions addressing the unmet needs of carers during the radiation phase of treatment. A nurse-led supportive intervention delivered during radiation is an opportunity to address carers’ unmet needs early in the illness trajectory.

Aims:  To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a nurse-led intervention to identify and address the unmet needs of carers for people with HGG.

Methods: This is a single group, pre-post study design. Twenty (n=20) carers of people with newly diagnosed HGG, planned for a minimum of 15 fractions of radiation, will be recruited from radiation oncology clinics at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Carers will complete a neuro-oncology needs screen identifying priority areas for support. The cancer nurse researcher/PhD candidate will meet with the carer (face-to face or by phone) during the patient’s radiation treatment to offer support to manage the identified caregiving issues, with an optional needs screening approximately four weeks after the completion of radiation.

Results:  Data pertaining to carer preparedness, competence/confidence, strain, positive appraisal of caregiving, family well-being, and distress will be collected at 3 time points: baseline, end of radiation treatment and 6 weeks post radiation. Semi-structured interviews and surveys will explore the GAINS intervention from the perspective of the participating carers, their patients, and health professionals caring of the patient-carer dyad.

Conclusions: The GAINS study commenced recruiting at Princess Alexandra Hospital in 2023, with fifteen (n=15) carers currently enrolled or having completed all study components. Preliminary findings  indicate most carers prefer face-to-face sessions to explore diverse needs, with duration of sessions ranging 15-65 minutes.