CONTEXT: For many hospice caregivers, the constancy and difficulty of caregiving impact their physical quality of life and cause depression, psychological distress, guilt, loneliness, and restrictions on social activities. OBJECTIVES: Deviating from traditional unidimensional research on hospice caregivers, this study explored the transactional nature of reciprocal suffering by examining caregiver concerns through four dimensions: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual. METHODS: Researchers analyzed audiotapes of intervention discussions between hospice caregivers and research social workers. RESULTS: Results indicated that, of the 125 pain talk utterances, most referenced psychological concern (49%), followed by physical (28%), social (22%), and spiritual (2%) concerns. Reflections on concerns revealed a global perspective of caregiving, which highlighted the patient's needs juxtaposed to the caregiver's recognized limitations. CONCLUSION: By examining the reciprocal nature of suffering for caregivers, this study reinforced the need for assessing caregivers in hospice care, with specific emphasis on the importance of providing caregiver education on pain management.
CONTEXT: For many hospice caregivers, the constancy and difficulty of caregiving impact their physical quality of life and cause depression, psychological distress, guilt, loneliness, and restrictions on social activities. OBJECTIVES: Deviating from traditional unidimensional research on hospice caregivers, this study explored the transactional nature of reciprocal suffering by examining caregiver concerns through four dimensions: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual. METHODS: Researchers analyzed audiotapes of intervention discussions between hospice caregivers and research social workers. RESULTS: Results indicated that, of the 125 pain talk utterances, most referenced psychological concern (49%), followed by physical (28%), social (22%), and spiritual (2%) concerns. Reflections on concerns revealed a global perspective of caregiving, which highlighted the patient's needs juxtaposed to the caregiver's recognized limitations. CONCLUSION: By examining the reciprocal nature of suffering for caregivers, this study reinforced the need for assessing caregivers in hospice care, with specific emphasis on the importance of providing caregiver education on pain management.
Authors: Holly G Prigerson; Emily Cherlin; Joyce H Chen; Stanislav V Kasl; Rosemary Hurzeler; Elizabeth H Bradley Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2003 May-Jun Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Karla T Washington; Elaine Wittenberg-Lyles; Debra Parker Oliver; George Demiris; Sara Shaunfield; Edith Crumb Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2012-10-04 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Elaine Wittenberg-Lyles; Parker Oliver Debra; George Demiris; Anna Rankin; Sara Shaunfield; Robin L Kruse Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2012-05-01
Authors: Debra Parker Oliver; Elaine Wittenberg-Lyles; Karla Washington; Robin L Kruse; David L Albright; Paula K Baldwin; Amy Boxer; George Demiris Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2013-05-31 Impact factor: 3.612