Cancer caregiver support system: A pilot study to assess the effect of improved caregiver support on postoperative recovery of oral cancer patients.

Abstract

Postoperative recovery for patients with oral cancer is an arduous process, relying heavily on the involvement of caregivers, who often lack formal training or support. To address this gap, we developed the Cancer Caregiver Support System (CCSS)-a low-cost, mobile-accessible platform designed to empower caregivers with culturally tailored guidance. A randomized pilot study was conducted at Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCH & RC), (Unit of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai) Muzaffarpur, by enrolling 75 postoperative oral cancer patients and their primary caregivers. Participants were randomized into two arms: Arm A received standard care plus the CCSS intervention (A Hindi-language website, printed recovery booklet, and moderated WhatsApp group); Arm B received standard care alone. Primary endpoints included 30-day morbidity and duration of nasogastric tube (NGT) dependency. Secondary endpoints included caregiver burden using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and swallowing outcomes as measured by Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores. Tertiary endpoints included unscheduled follow-ups and readmissions. While 30-day morbidity, delay in NGT weaning, and FOIS scores were comparable across arms, caregivers in the intervention arm reported significantly lower burden (mean ZBI score: 12.26 vs 17.53; P = 0.021) and fewer unplanned follow-ups (mean: 1.23 vs 2.64; P < 0.001). Readmission rates remained low in both groups. The CCSS intervention demonstrated feasibility and acceptability, with early signals of benefit in reducing caregiver strain and postdischarge disruptions. This pilot study underscores the potential of context-sensitive, digitally enabled caregiver support in resource-constrained oncology settings. Further scale-up and integration with AI-driven personalization are planned.