Stress, Employment Changes, and Psychological Distress Among Caregivers of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

The findings of this survey study suggest that caregiving for patients with HNC undergoing EBRT may be associated with lower employment rates and poorer mental health among caregivers. Integrating caregivers into multidisciplinary HNC care to identify those at risk and connecting them to timely employment-based interventions such as flexible work arrangements and caregiver leave, as well as community-based support services such as counseling and social network-building, could help alleviate the dual burden of employment strain and psychological distress, benefiting both caregivers and patients.