Care for Imminently Dying Cancer Patients: Family Members' Experiences and Recommendations

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuya Shinjo ◽  
Tatsuya Morita ◽  
Kei Hirai ◽  
Mitsunori Miyashita ◽  
Kazuki Sato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Dying Patients ◽  
The Family ◽  
High Level ◽  
Bereaved Family

Purpose The aim of this study was to clarify the level of emotional distress experienced by bereaved family members and the perceived necessity for improvement in the care for imminently dying patients and to explore possible causes of distress and alleviating measures. Methods A cross-sectional nationwide survey was performed in 2007 of bereaved families of cancer patients at 95 palliative care units across Japan. Results Questionnaires were sent to 670 families, and 76% responded. Families reported their experiences as very distressing in 45% of cases. Regarding care, 1.2% of respondents believed that a lot of improvement was needed, compared with 58% who believed no improvement was needed. Determinants of high-level distress were a younger patient age, being a spouse, and overhearing conversations between the medical staff outside the room at the time of the patient's death; those reporting high-level necessity of improvement were less likely to have encountered attempts to ensure the patient's comfort, received less family coaching on how to care for the patient, and felt that insufficient time was allowed for the family to grieve after the patient's death. Conclusion A considerable number of families experienced severe emotional distress when their family member died. Thus, we propose that a desirable care concept for imminently dying cancer patients should include relief of patient suffering, family advisement on how to care for the patient, allowance of enough time for the family to grieve, and ensuring that family members cannot overhear medical staff conversations at the time of the patient's death.

scholarly journals Stigma perceived by family members of psychiatric patients attending outpatient department of a teaching hospital

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-69
Author(s):  
Rama Kumari Lamichhane
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Outpatient Department ◽  
P Value ◽  
Perceived Stigma ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Family ◽  
High Level

Introductions: Stigma and unfavorable view of people towards mental illness is prevailing in Nepal due to lack of awareness. Stigma among family members of people with mental illness has a serious impact on the outcome. This study aims to identify the level of perceived stigma by family members and association with selected demographical variables. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to assess the stigma perceived by family members of patients visiting psychiatry outpatient department of Patan Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences during 12 August to Sep 7, 2018. Questionnaire on socio-demographic variables and self-stigma of mental illness scale was used to interview the family members to assess the level of perceived stigma. Chi-square was used to examine the association between demographic variables and stigma, p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 180 family interviewed 94 (52.2%) had perceived high level of stigma and 86 (47.8%) low level of stigma. There was significant association between age and perceived stigma (p value=0.030) at 95% of significance. Conclusions: More than half of the family members of psychiatric patients had perceived high level of stigma and was associated with the age.

Experiences of discrimination by people with schizophrenia in Lagos, Nigeria

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Increase Ibukun Adeosun ◽  
Abosede Adekeji Adegbohun ◽  
Oyetayo Oyewunmi Jeje ◽  
Tomilola Adejoke Adewumi
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Physical Restraint ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unfair Treatment ◽  
The Family ◽  
High Level

Purpose – The label of schizophrenia attracts a high level of stigma; consequently, people with schizophrenia are victims of unfair treatment and have limited access to decent livelihood and basic opportunities. However, most studies on stigma have overlooked the experiences of patients with schizophrenia. The purpose of this paper is to assess the experience of discrimination by patients with schizophrenia in Lagos, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – A descriptive cross-sectional study. Out-patients with schizophrenia (n=150) were interviewed with the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC 12) at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. Findings – The majority of the respondents (86.7 per cent) had been avoided by people who knew they had schizophrenia. Unfair treatment was experienced by 71.3 per cent from family members, 62.7 per cent from friends, 32 per cent in social life and 28.7 per cent in intimate relationships, and 38.7 per cent in personal safety. The most commonly reported unfair treatment was inappropriate physical restraint (e.g. chains and ropes) applied by family members and beating. About eight out of ten (79.3 per cent) respondents concealed their illness. Originality/value – The findings indicate that people with schizophrenia in Nigeria experience high levels of discrimination, some of which contravenes their basic human rights. The unfair treatment experienced within the family context excludes people with schizophrenia from engaging in basic social relationships, education and the pursuit of life opportunities. Legislations should be reviewed to protect patients from unfair treatment and violation of their human rights. There is also need to equip them with strategies to cope with stigma.

scholarly journals Symptoms of Prolonged Grief and Self-Reported Health Among Bereaved Family Members of Persons Who Died From Sudden Cardiac Arrest

2021 ◽  
pp. 003022282110181
Author(s):  
Nina Carlsson ◽  
Anette Alvariza ◽  
Anders Bremer ◽  
Lena Axelsson ◽  
Kristofer Årestedt
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Sudden Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Western World ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
The Family ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Bereaved Family

Sudden cardiac arrest is common and is one of the leading causes of death in the western world, and the sudden loss following cardiac arrest may have a significant impact on bereaved family members’ health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe symptoms of prolonged grief and self-reported health among bereaved family members of persons who died from sudden cardiac arrest, with comparisons between spouses and non-spouses. This was a cross-sectional observation study with 108 adult family members who completed a questionnaire. A fifth of the family members reported prolonged grief, and problems with self-reported health were common, especially regarding anxiety. Spouses reported more problems with prolonged grief and self-reported health compared with non-spouses. The risk of these family members developing prolonged grief and health problems should be recognized, and professional support should be offered.

Validity and Reliability of the Dying Care Process and Outcome Scales Before and After Death From the Bereaved Family Members’ Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Kanno ◽  
Kazuki Sato ◽  
Megumi Shimizu ◽  
Yuko Funamizu ◽  
Hideaki Andoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Family Care ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Processes ◽  
The Family ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Bereaved Family

Objective: There are no instruments evaluating the processes and outcomes of dying care right before and after death. Therefore, we developed and examined the validity and reliability of 2 scales for evaluating dying care processes and outcomes before and after death. Methods: A cross-sectional, anonymous questionnaire was administered to bereaved family members of patients with cancer who had died in 5 facilities. We evaluated the Dying Care Process Scale for Bereaved Family Members (DPS-B) and the Dying Care Outcome Scale for Bereaved Family Members (DOS-B) with 345 bereaved family members. Results: A factor analysis revealed that DPS-B and DOS-B each consisted of 4 subscales. For the DPS-B, they were “symptom management,” “respect for the patient’s dignity before and after death,” “explanation to the family,” and “family care.” For the DOS-B, they were “peaceful dying process for the patient,” “being respected as a person before and after death,” “good relationship between the patient and family,” and “peaceful dying process for the family.” Both DPS-B and DOS-B had sufficient convergent and discriminative validity, sufficient internal consistency (DPS-B: α = 0.91 and subscales’ αs = 0.78-0.91; DOS-B: α = 0.91 and subscales’ αs = 0.78-0.94), and sufficient test–retest reliability (DPS-B: intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] of total score = 0.79 and subscales = 0.55-0.79; DOS-B: ICC of total score = 0.88 and subscales = 0.70-0.88). Significance of Results: Both DPS-B and DOS-B are valid and reliable scales for evaluating the dying care processes and outcomes before and after death from the bereaved family members’ perspectives.

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