Effect of Unmet Needs on Depression and Anxiety in Informal Hospice-Patient Caregivers: A Quality Improvement Project

• Main Author: Bigler, Sharon K
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2022
• Subjects: Health sciences; Medicine; Nursing
• ISBN: 9798351478661

One-fourth of all informal hospice-patient caregivers (usually family members or friends) experience moderate to severe depression and one-third experience moderate to severe anxiety during the time in which they are providing care (Parker Oliver et al., 2017). Despite this, depression and anxiety in informal hospice-patient caregivers is rarely addressed by healthcare providers (Oeschle et al., 2013; Shepherd-Banigan et al., 2020; Sklenarova et al., 2015; Tsai et al., 2015). Sklenarova et al. (2015) found a direct correlation between unmet needs and severity of depression and anxiety in caregivers. This study found that predictions or generalizations could not be made regarding what needs most significantly affected caregiver depression and anxiety, therefore they recommended that needs assessments be performed individually with interventions tailored to each caregiver based on findings from the Supportive Care Needs Assessment for Partners and Caregivers (SCNS-P&C) screening assessment tool. Using theory from Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model and the Institute for Health Improvement’s Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, this project sought to improve depression and anxiety in informal hospice-patient caregivers by identifying and resolving unmet needs. A quality improvement project was implemented through a large northeastern Oklahoma hospice provider. Informal caregivers were given the opportunity to voluntarily perform depression and anxiety screenings along with unmet needs assessments. Hospice staff were asked to address needs which were identified as moderate or high-scoring needs. The caregivers were asked to repeat the survey four weeks later. The objective of the project was to develop and implement a thorough assessment tool to assist hospice staff in identifying depression, anxiety, and unmet needs in informal hospice-patient caregivers with the aim of decreasing depression and anxiety through resolution of unmet needs. Keywords: depression, anxiety, unmet needs, hospice, caregivers