Effect of palliative care on the anxiety, depression and sleep quality in primary caregivers of elderly patients with terminal cancer.

Objective: To explore the effect of palliative care on the psychological well-being and sleep quality of the primary caregivers of elderly patients with terminal cancer.

Methods: In this prospective study, a total of 102 elderly patients with terminal cancer and their primary caregivers were randomly divided into a study group and a control group of 51 patients each by a random number table. The control group was given routine end-of-life care and the study group was given palliative care. In this study, we compared adverse mood, sleep quality, psychological stress and satisfaction with care among primary caregivers before and after the intervention, as well as changes in patients' quality of life.

Results: The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and RSS scores of the primary caregiver were significantly lower in both groups after the intervention, and significantly lower in the study group (all P<0.05). The Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) scores were significantly higher in both groups after the intervention, and significantly higher in the study group (all P<0.05). In addition, the primary caregiver's satisfaction with care was significantly higher in the study group than that in the control group (96.08% vs. 82.35%, P<0.05).

Conclusion: Palliative care for patients with terminal cancer can be effective in alleviating the poor psychological well-being of the primary caregivers, improving their sleep quality as well as improving nursing satisfaction and patients' quality of life.