scholarly journals Abbreviated dignity therapy for adults with advanced-stage cancer and their family caregivers: Qualitative analysis of a pilot study

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (03) ◽  
pp. 262-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne Beck ◽  
Ann H. Cottingham ◽  
Patrick V. Stutz ◽  
Rachel Gruber ◽  
Jennifer K. Bernat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Common Core ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Advanced Stage ◽  
Independent Reflection ◽  
Dignity Therapy ◽  
Advanced Stage Cancer

AbstractObjectiveDignity therapy (DT) is designed to address psychological and existential challenges that terminally ill individuals face. DT guides patients in developing a written legacy project in which they record and share important memories and messages with those they will leave behind. DT has been demonstrated to ease existential concerns for adults with advanced-stage cancer; however, lack of institutional resources limits wide implementation of DT in clinical practice. This study explores qualitative outcomes of an abbreviated, less resource-intensive version of DT among participants with advanced-stage cancer and their legacy project recipients.MethodQualitative methods were used to analyze postintervention interviews with 11 participants and their legacy recipients as well as the created legacy projects. Direct content analysis was used to assess feedback from the interviews about benefits, barriers, and recommendations regarding abbreviated DT. The legacy projects were coded for expression of core values.ResultFindings suggest that abbreviated DT effectively promotes (1) self-expression, (2) connection with loved ones, (3) sense of purpose, and (4) continuity of self. Participants observed that leading the development of their legacy projects promoted independent reflection, autonomy, and opportunities for family interaction when reviewing and discussing the projects. Consistent with traditional DT, participants expressed “family” as the most common core value in their legacy projects. Expression of “autonomy” was also a notable finding.Significance of resultsAbbreviated DT reduces resource barriers to conducting traditional DT while promoting similar benefits for participants and recipients, making it a promising adaptation warranting further research. The importance that patients place on family and autonomy should be honored as much as possible by those caring for adults with advanced-stage cancer.

Symptom Experiences: Perceptual Accuracy Between Advanced-Stage Cancer Patients and Family Caregivers in the Home Care Setting

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (16) ◽  
pp. 3495-3507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle M. Lobchuk ◽  
Lesley F. Degner
Keyword(s):  
Home Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Advanced Stage ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Symptom Experiences ◽  
Advanced Stage Cancer

PURPOSE: This study used a comparative descriptive design to compare family caregivers’ and advanced-stage cancer patients’ perceptions of patients’ multidimensional symptom experiences on presence, frequency, severity, and distress. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A convenience sample of 98 dyads, composed of advanced-stage heterogeneous cancer patients and their caregivers, completed the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale in the home care setting on a one-time basis. This scale is a 32-item Likert-type scale for assessing the presence, frequency, severity, and distress arising from symptoms in cancer patients. RESULTS: There was confirmation of trends previously described in related studies where, for example, caregivers tend to overreport on symptom experiences. However, the degree of absolute difference between patient and caregiver responses was normally around 1 unit (on a theoretical range of 0 to 4 units). Levels of patient-caregiver agreement were better on more concrete questions related to symptom frequency, severity, and distress than on broad questions related to the presence of a symptom. Patients and caregivers achieved better levels of agreement on physical versus psychological symptoms. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that family caregivers can provide reasonable proxy or complementary reports on patient symptom experiences of frequency, severity, and distress. However, family caregivers have greater difficulty in achieving high levels of accuracy on psychological versus physical symptoms.

The Meaning of Life Intervention for Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer: Development and Pilot Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. E480-E488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Mok ◽  
Ka-po Lau ◽  
Theresa Lai ◽  
Shirley Ching
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Meaning Of Life ◽  
Cancer Development ◽  
Advanced Stage ◽  
Advanced Stage Cancer

scholarly journals Family caregiver burden: the burden of caring for lung cancer patients according to the cancer stage and patient quality of life

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliana Lourenço Borges ◽  
Juliana Franceschini ◽  
Luiza Helena Degani Costa ◽  
Ana Luisa Godoy Fernandes ◽  
Sérgio Jamnik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Cancer Stage ◽  
Advanced Stage ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Stage Cancer

ABSTRACT Objective: Patients with lung cancer experience different feelings and reactions, based on their family, social, cultural, and religious backgrounds, which are a source of great distress, not only for the patients but also for their family caregivers. This study aimed to evaluate the impact that lung cancer stage and quality of life (QoL) of lung cancer patients have on caregiver burden. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. Consecutive patient-caregiver dyads were selected and asked to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item ShortForm Health Survey (SF-36). Family caregivers also completed the Caregiver Burden Scale. Group-based modeling was used in order to identify patients with early- or advanced-stage cancer (IA to IIIA vs. IIIB to IV) plus non-impaired or impaired QoL (SF36 total score > 50 vs. ≤ 50). Patient-caregiver dyads were stratified into four groups: early-stage cancer+non-impaired QoL; advanced-stage cancer+non-impaired QoL; early-stage cancer+impaired QoL; and advanced-stage cancer+impaired QoL. Results: We included 91 patient-caregiver dyads. The majority of the patients were male and heavy smokers. Family caregivers were younger and predominantly female. The burden, QoL, level of anxiety, and level of depression of caregivers were more affected by the QoL of the patients than by their lung cancer stage. The family caregivers of the patients with impaired QoL showed a higher median burden than did those of the patients with non-impaired QoL, regardless of disease stage. Conclusions: Caregiver burden is more affected by patient QoL than by lung cancer stage.

scholarly journals Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Grob ◽  
Alicia L. Danforth ◽  
Gurpreet S. Chopra ◽  
Marycie Hagerty ◽  
Charles R. McKay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Advanced Stage ◽  
Advanced Stage Cancer

The Religion of “I Don’t Know”

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Ellington ◽  
Maija Reblin ◽  
Betty Ferrell ◽  
Christina Puchalski ◽  
Shirley Otis-Green ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Consensus Conference ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Spiritual Beliefs ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
Family Centered

The goal of this pilot study was to identify naturally occurring, spiritually relevant conversations and elucidate challenges for nurses in home hospice. We examined naturalistic communication data collected during nurse hospice visits with cancer patients and their family caregivers. Using deductive content analysis, guided by Consensus Conference spiritual categories and definition, categorical themes were identified. Thirty-three visits to seven families were recorded by five nurses. Although most spiritual dialogue was brief, analysis revealed five themes: Spiritual Beliefs and Rituals, Connection, Spiritual Comfort, Closure and Acceptance, and Spiritual Distress. Findings demonstrate the range of spiritual issues raised in hospice and challenges nurses face in maintaining boundaries while remaining genuine and family-centered in providing care. This work serves as a foundation for future research and education to help clinicians to engage in more intentional spiritual conversations in the support of families at end of life.

Caregiver burden and bereavement among family caregivers who lost terminally ill cancer patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-522
Author(s):  
Yong Tang
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Hospice Care ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Truth Telling ◽  
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients ◽  
Attitudes Toward Death

AbstractObjectiveFamily caregivers (FCs) in China provide hospice care to terminally ill cancer patients; however, few studies have been conducted in China on caregiver burden and bereavement experiences as a process that continues over time. The purpose of this study was to identify the main elements of caring and bereavement experiences for FCs caring for patients diagnosed with terminal cancer.MethodTwenty in-depth qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with FCs providing care in a hospice unit in Shenzhen, Southern China. Interview transcripts were analyzed via thematic content analysis.ResultA framework based on the following eight principal themes was developed through content analysis of our FC interviews: symptoms of the illness, the truth-telling process, attitudes toward death, the “color” of death, social and professional support, the moment of death, and grief and loss.Significance of resultsThe analysis showed that caregiving may positively or negatively influence the bereavement process.

Ankle Brachial Pressure Index and compression application: Review summary

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-77
Author(s):  
Victoria Team ◽  
Georgina Gethin ◽  
John D Ivory ◽  
Kimberley Crawford ◽  
Ayoub Bouguettaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Venous Insufficiency ◽  
Arterial Disease ◽  
Leg Ulcers ◽  
Current Clinical Practice ◽  
Ankle Brachial Pressure Index ◽  
Arterial Circulation ◽  
Pressure Index ◽  
Peripheral Arterial

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are a significant complication amongst persons with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) that frequently follow a cycle of healing and recurrence. Current clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) recommend applying below knee compression to improve VLU healing. Compression could be applied if the Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) rules out significant arterial disease, as sufficient peripheral arterial circulation is necessary to ensure safe compression use. We conducted a content analysis of 13 global CPGs on the accuracy of recommendations related to ABPI and compression application. Eight CPGs indicated that compression is recommended when the ABPI is between 0.8 and 1.2 mmHg. However, this review found there is disagreement between 13 global VLU CPGs, with a lack of clarity on whether or not compression is indicated for patients with ABPIs between 0.6 and 0.8 mmHg. Some CPGs recommend reduced compression for treatment of VLUs, while others do not recommend any type of compression at all. This has implications for when it is safe to apply compression, and the inconsistency in evidence indicates that specialist advice may be required at levels beyond the ABPI “safe” range listed above.

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