Eun Young Kim1, Seieun Oh2, Youn-Jung Son1. 1. Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea. 2. College of Nursing, Dankook University, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Living with heart failure, a debilitating disease with an unpredictable course, requires ongoing adaptation and management not only from patients but also from their families. Family caregivers have been known to be key facilitators of self-management of heart failure. An integrative understanding of the experiences of family caregivers will provide essential information for improving the quality of life of persons with heart failure and their families. AIMS: This study aimed to integrate and synthesize the findings of qualitative studies on family members' experiences of caring for patients with heart failure. METHODS: We employed the meta-ethnography methodology. Five electronic bibliographic databases were used to retrieve studies published from April 2009-March 2019 that explored family caregivers' experiences of caring for patients with heart failure. Twelve qualitative studies were finally included for the synthesis, based on the eligibility criteria. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: "shouldering the entire burden," "starting a new life," and "balancing caregiving and everyday life." These three themes illustrate how family caregivers fulfilled caregiving roles, what helped them juggle their multiple responsibilities, and how they struck a balance between life as caregivers and individuals in their own right. CONCLUSION: This review provides a deeper understanding of family caregivers' experiences of caring for patients with heart failure. The findings can help healthcare providers in the development and implementation of tailored interventions for both patients and family caregivers.
BACKGROUND: Living with heart failure, a debilitating disease with an unpredictable course, requires ongoing adaptation and management not only from patients but also from their families. Family caregivers have been known to be key facilitators of self-management of heart failure. An integrative understanding of the experiences of family caregivers will provide essential information for improving the quality of life of persons with heart failure and their families. AIMS: This study aimed to integrate and synthesize the findings of qualitative studies on family members' experiences of caring for patients with heart failure. METHODS: We employed the meta-ethnography methodology. Five electronic bibliographic databases were used to retrieve studies published from April 2009-March 2019 that explored family caregivers' experiences of caring for patients with heart failure. Twelve qualitative studies were finally included for the synthesis, based on the eligibility criteria. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: "shouldering the entire burden," "starting a new life," and "balancing caregiving and everyday life." These three themes illustrate how family caregivers fulfilled caregiving roles, what helped them juggle their multiple responsibilities, and how they struck a balance between life as caregivers and individuals in their own right. CONCLUSION: This review provides a deeper understanding of family caregivers' experiences of caring for patients with heart failure. The findings can help healthcare providers in the development and implementation of tailored interventions for both patients and family caregivers.
Entities:
Keywords:
Heart failure; family caregivers; qualitative research; review
Authors: Izabella Uchmanowicz; Kenneth M Faulkner; Ercole Vellone; Agnieszka Siennicka; Remigiusz Szczepanowski; Agnieszka Olchowska-Kotala Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-09 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Ena Niño de Guzmán Quispe; Laura Martínez García; Carola Orrego Villagrán; Monique Heijmans; Rosa Sunol; David Fraile-Navarro; Javier Pérez-Bracchiglione; Lyudmil Ninov; Karla Salas-Gama; Andrés Viteri García; Pablo Alonso-Coello Journal: Patient Date: 2021-04-19 Impact factor: 3.883