Stress Management and Resilience Training (SMART) Intervention for Family Caregivers of Individuals With Advanced Cancer

FCGs experience stress and extensive demands in providing care for those with head and neck
cancer. Teaching the principles of mindfulness and compassion to FCGs has the potential to
protect their psychological health and well-being. This may allow them to provide effective,
compassionate care to patients, which ultimately puts the needs of the patient first.

Mindfulness interventions have demonstrated decreased stress and anxiety, and improved
self-compassion for individuals, but entail numerous sessions over several weeks, a barrier
for caregivers. The SMART program, a brief mindfulness program, has demonstrated improvements
in resilience, anxiety, perceived stress, and mindfulness for healthcare providers and
patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Primary caregiver of patient with advanced head and neck cancer receiving
chemotherapy, living with the patient at least 50% of the time during treatment, able
to read and speak English, cognitively intact, able to take SMART class within 2 weeks
of enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

- Self-identified mental health diagnoses, less than 18 years of age, not living with
patient at least 50% of the time, unable to read and speak English