The Process of Preparedness for Caregiving among Family Members in Palliative Home Care

• Background: Preparedness for caregiving has been found to be an important concept in palliative home care where family members are taking a great responsibility for the patient’s care. Low preparedness has been linked to negative consequences and a greater burden for these family members. Preparedness has been defined as the perceived readiness to provide care and could be seen as a continuous process rather than a static condition. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the process of preparedness for caregiving among family members in palliative home care. Method: An interpretive descriptive design was chosen. A strategic sampling method was applied and 12 family members of patients in specialised palliative home care were interviewed, using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were analysed by constant comparative analysis, using the software program NVivo. Results: The process of preparedness for caregiving included three patterns: Awaring, adjusting and grieving. The process was not described as linear but rather a continuous process where the family members were moving between the patterns during the trajectory. In all three patterns, grief was an important factor, affecting the caregiver role and the family members´ preparedness for caregiving. Conclusion: Exploring the process of preparedness for caregiving in family members could bring a greater understanding for this group and provide health professionals with new insights in how to support them.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

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