Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29766259›Full record

Trial reportSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2018

A telephone outcall program to support caregivers of people diagnosed with cancer: utility, changes in levels of distress, and unmet needs.

Leila Heckel, Kate M Fennell, Liliana Orellana, Anna Boltong, Monica Byrnes, Patricia M Livingston

Abstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
5.9field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Are cancer helplines effective in supporting caregivers? A systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2019
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Palliative medicine · 2025
    Article
  5. Observational
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Leila HeckelFaculty of Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. l.heckel@deakin.edu.au.
Kate M FennellCancer Council SA, 202 Greenhill Road, Eastwood, South Australia, 5063, Australia.
Liliana OrellanaFaculty of Health, Biostatistics Unit, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
Anna BoltongCancer Council Victoria, 615 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
Monica ByrnesCancer Council SA, 202 Greenhill Road, Eastwood, South Australia, 5063, Australia.
Patricia M LivingstonFaculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
Deakin University · AUCancer Council SA · AUCancer Council Victoria · AU

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council GNT1044400 RM24525
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate the utility of a telephone outcall program for cancer caregivers and to examine longitudinal changes in their distress levels and supportive care needs.

methodsAs part of the PROTECT trial, caregivers assigned to the intervention arm (N = 108) received three telephone outcalls from a Cancer Council 13 11 20 nurse at three time points (7-10 days post-randomization, 1 and 4 months later). During each call, caregivers were screened for distress using the Distress Thermometer (range: 0-10) then six supportive care issues were raised for discussion. Participants completed a utility survey 1 month post-intervention.

resultsThe outcall program was highly acceptable and perceived as beneficial by caregivers. Overall, 95% reported it was worth their time to take part in the outcall program and 82% stated that the program was very relevant to them. Level of distress and impact of distress decreased over time (p = 0.0031, p < 0.0001, respectively). Average call duration decreased over time (p < 0.0001) and was longer for female than male caregivers (p = 0.0009). The frequency of caregivers discussing issues related to psychological distress (p = 0.0003), health literacy (p < 0.0001), financial (p = 0.0014), and practical concerns (p = 0.0121) decreased over time. Psychological distress was more often discussed by female than male caregivers (p = 0.0153), and family issues more often by younger (< 55 years) than older caregivers (p = 0.0071).

conclusionsUtility of this outcall program was high. Caregivers' level of distress and unmet needs decreased over time. Gender and age differences emerged, which warrants the need for tailored support. Further research is necessary to identify the best method of improving access to 13 11 20 services for caregivers.

Indexed as

Needs AssessmentNeoplasmsSocial SupportTelephoneAdultAgedBurnout, PsychologicalCaregiversFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHotlinesHumansMaleMiddle AgedStress, PsychologicalSurveys and QuestionnairesCancerCaregiversDistressOncologyTelephone interventionUnmet needs

Identifiers

PMID29766259
OpenAlexW2803614509

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.