Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Glioma carers- Assessment of Individual Needs and Support  [The GAINS study]: Feasibility, preliminary effects, and Health Care Professionals perspectives of a nurse-led supportive intervention for carers of people with high-grade glioma (146107)

Diana Jones 1 2 , Carla Thamm 1 2 , Mark B Pinkham 1 2 3 , Raymond J Chan 1 2 3 , Matthew P Wallen 1
  1. Flinders LiveWell Cancer Research Centre, College of Health and Enablement, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  2. Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. Cancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability (Health Care Professionals (HCP) perspectives) of a nurse-led supportive intervention for carers of people with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma, initiated during radiation treatment; and to explore preliminary intervention effects on preparedness and confidence to care, positive caregiving appraisal, family wellbeing, strain, and distress.

Methods: A prospective, single-arm, pre-post, pilot study design. Carers were recruited from the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland from August 2023 to February 2025. Feasibility was assessed through rates of recruitment, retention, and completion of ≥2 sessions (established a priori). Validated participant-reported outcome measures (Preparedness for Caregiving; Caregiving Competence Scale; GHQ-12; FACQ-PC) were completed at baseline (T1), end of radiation (T2), and six weeks post-radiation (T3), and analysed using mixed model regressions. Acceptability was explored through qualitative content analysis of HCP surveys.

Results: Of 29 eligible carers, 23 (79%) consented, exceeding enrolment targets (n=20). All completed baseline assessment and ≥2 support sessions. Twenty-one (91%) completed T1 and T2 assessments; 20 (87%) completed all study requirements. Compared to baseline, there were significant increases in preparedness to care (MD: 4.38; 95%-CI: 2.49,6.27; p<0.001) and carer competence (MD: 1.35; 95%-CI: 0.40,2.31; p=0.008), with a significant decrease in carer distress (MD: -4.35; 95%-CI:-6.52,-2.17; p<0.001) and carer strain (FACQ-PC subscale) (MD: -2.15; 95%-CI: -3.78,-0.52; p=0.014). There was no significant change in other FACQ-PC sub-scales (distress, positive appraisal of caregiving, family wellbeing) across time (all p>0.05). 90.7 % of HCP surveys (68/75) rated GAINS as helpful, with themes highlighting enhanced communication, and timely identification and response to carer and patient needs.

Conclusions: GAINS was feasible and acceptable to HCPs, and increased carer preparedness and confidence to care, while reducing distress and strain. Analysis of carer and patient perspectives is ongoing. These findings provide preliminary evidence to support a larger-scale effectiveness-implementation trial.