Video Conference Intervention For Distance Caregivers (Dcgs) Of Patients With Cancer: Improving Psychological Outcomes.

12123 Background: Family caregivers are increasingly involved in providing care and support for patients with cancer. Approximately 20% of caregivers live > 1 hour away from the patient and are considered DCGs. DCGs report higher distress and anxiety than local caregivers—often due to lack of first hand information and a high degree of uncertainty regarding the patient’s condition. Methods: This RCT was conducted at a large, urban comprehensive cancer center. Patients of all cancer types were eligible if they had monthly oncologist appointments and were receiving treatment. DCGs were randomized to one of three arms. Arm 1 received 4 monthly videoconference coaching sessions with a nurse practitioner or social worker focused upon information and support, participated in patient’s appointments with the oncologist via videoconference over the 4 month study period, and had access to a website designed for DCGs. Arm 2 did not receive the coaching sessions but received the other 2 components of Arm 1. Arm 3 received access to the DCG website only. Primary variables of interest were DCG distress and anxiety. DCGs completed online surveys prior to randomization and at the completion of the intervention period. PROMIS Anxiety and the NCCN distress thermometer were used. Results: Between November, 2016 and October, 2019, 441 patient-dyads were enrolled. Mean DCG age was 47 years; 71% were female, 65% Caucasian, 63% were the child of the patient and 81% were employed. Mean patient age was 65 years, 60% were female, 30% had GI cancer and 18% had hematologic cancer. For patients with solid tumor cancers, 59% were Stage IV. RMANOVA was used to examine the change in anxiety t-scores over time by arms of the intervention, controlling for DCG age, race, and gender. There was a significant anxiety by group interaction (p = .03) with Arm 1 being the only group that showed a significant reduction in anxiety over time (21.2% improved, ES = .57). Distress followed a similar pattern with a significant distress by group interaction (p = .02) with Arm 1 demonstrating the greatest improvement in distress over time (54.3%). Conclusions: These data suggest that the use of a coaching videoconference intervention made significant and clinically meaningful differences in anxiety and distress for these important members of the family caregiving team. Clinical trial information: NCT02666183 .