Background: Bereavement is a known risk factor for depression; however, the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among family members who provided home care for terminally ill cancer patients remains unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of probable depression and associated factors among bereaved family members of cancer patients who died at home in Japan. Design: A multicenter cross-sectional study within a prospective cohort using a self-administered questionnaire survey of bereaved family members. Setting/Subjects: Twenty facilities across Japan participated. Bereaved family members of adult cancer patients who died at home were surveyed. Measurements: Depression was assessed using the Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, with probable depression defined as a total score of ≥ 10. Results: Among 195 bereaved family members, 23 (11.8%; 95% CI: 7.3–16.3%) screened positive for probable depression. Factors significantly associated with depression included unpreparedness for death (OR 11.0; 95% CI 2.8–43.8), caregiver’s poor physical condition while providing care (OR 7.4; 95% CI 1.4–39.2), patient dyspnea within one week before death (OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.3–15.6), and use of antipsychotics at the start of home care (OR 6.3; 95% CI 1.2–32.2). Conclusions: A substantial minority of bereaved family members screened positive for probable depression after providing home care. In addition to effective symptom management, especially for dyspnea and addressing neuropsychiatric instability (as indicated by the need for antipsychotics), during home care, ensuring that family members are adequately informed about the patient’s condition and addressing their physical well-being may help reduce the risk of depression in bereaved family members.
Yamamoto et al. (Thu,) studied this question.