Understanding Family Members in the Palliative Phases of Their Loved Ones: A Qualitative Study.

Publisher: Nursecom, Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 100887419 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1539-0705 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15222179 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Hosp Palliat Nurs Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Philadelphia, PA : Nursecom, Inc., c1999-

Qualitative Research* ; Family*/psychology ; Palliative Care*/methods ; Palliative Care*/psychology ; Adaptation, Psychological*; Humans ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Interviews as Topic/methods

Because of aging and rising rates of chronic diseases, the demand for palliative care services is increasing worldwide, and patients need family members to care for them throughout the palliative care process. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of the relatives of palliative care patients during hospitalization. This was a qualitative study conducted with 15 family members. A topic guide was used to conduct semistructured face-to-face interviews. Content analysis was used to analyze the textual data. As a result of the analysis, 3 main themes, 6 categories, and 24 subcategories emerged. The main themes were "reactions to the admission," "feeling obligated to care," and "coping processes." The interviews revealed that most participants had misconceptions and a lack of knowledge about palliative care. Almost all of the family members expressed that they experienced various emotions during this process and had trouble coping. The significant finding of our study is that culture and religious beliefs have a considerable influence on caregiving. A limited number of studies in the literature provide detailed insight into the state of patient relatives. Therefore, this study is critical in guiding palliative care professionals in understanding the requirements of this vulnerable group.
Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
(Copyright © 2024 by The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. All rights reserved.)

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Date Created: 20240410 Date Completed: 20240507 Latest Revision: 20240507

20240507

10.1097/NJH.0000000000001027

38597638