Effect of patient's alcohol abuse on caregiver's psychological asset: analysis of 60 couples of Head and Neck cancer patients and their caregivers

Abstract

Background: Alcohol abuse affects 30-60% of head and neck cancer patients. It produces important effects on patient's physical and psychological wellbeing and can influence the entire family's functioning. Aim of this study is investigate and define how alcoholism can influence the psychological sphere of caregivers and their relationship with patients affected by Head and Neck cancer. Material and methods: ixty couples of patients and caregivers were enrolled this observational cross sectional study on the base of the following inclusion criteria: age 18-80 years, Italian native language, stable patient-caregiver relationship established before cancer onset, oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal SCC, advanced stage disease (stage III-IV of AJCC, 7th edition, 2010), completion of curative treatment and no evidence of disease at the enrollment. Patients and caregivers completed questionnaires that assessed demographic variables, anxiety and depression (STAI Y1-Y2, BDI and MDRS) and quality of life (EORTC-QLQ-C30 and Head and Neck-35 module for patients and CQOLC for caregivers). Results: The 43% of patients' sample had a history of alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse was defined according to criteria established byWorld Health Organization. Patient-caregiver dyads were divided according to patient alcohol abuse: 34 couple with abuse (43%) and 26 couples without abuse (57%). Caregivers of patients with a history of alcohol abuse have a statistically lower quality of life compared with caregivers of patients with no history of alcohol abuse (p < 0.0493). No differences were found in terms of caregivers' anxiety and depression (p > 0.05). Moreover patients' quality of life anxiety and depression doesn't change depending on alcohol abuse (p = 0.9760). Conclusions: It's necessary to detect patients with alcohol abuse not only to better target their treatment but to provide a particular attention to their cargiver. Caregiver's wellbeing can influence patient's compliance to treatments.