Differences in the Ways that Family Caregivers Experience Medication Administration Hassles

This chapter discusses the type of work caregivers do. Among the medical procedures that caregivers do that are mentioned in the chapter are: intravenous therapies (IVs), total parenteral nutrition (TPN), gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) and nasogastric tubes (NG-tubes), urinary catheters, external catheters, intermittent catheters, wound care, ostomy, bowel management programs, respiratory procedures, tracheostomy, and positive-pressure ventilators. The chapter discusses caregiver insights and the dilemmas they face in having to provide skilled care. In general, many of the medical procedures are not only difficult to master but also cause trepidation because of the possible complications that can result if the caregiver makes a mistake. Several caregivers who gave IVs said they worried about contaminating the IV site or shooting air in the line. In hospitals, problems with medication administration are a leading cause of death, and so are infections that occur when a wound is not correctly dressed or an IV carefully accessed. Yet family caregivers are asked to do these activities on a routine basis — over a period of months or even years. The worry about complications is well founded, as they can have deleterious consequences. Coupled with issues of anxiety and fear of causing harm to the care recipient are issues of manual dexterity and “getting the feel” of the procedures. Not only do caregivers have to overcome fear, get the feel of procedures, and make sure they are done correctly, but they also have to get past the personal discomfort they may have regarding the intimate nature of the work they are asked to do.

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Medication Administration Hassles Reported by Family Caregivers of Dependent Elderly Persons

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/55.7.m412 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 55 (7) ◽

pp. M412-M417 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

S. S. Travis ◽

L. S. Bethea ◽

P. Winn

Keyword(s):

Family Caregivers ◽

Medication Administration ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Dependent Elderly

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Use of the measurement of medication administration hassles with Mexican American family caregivers

Journal of Clinical Nursing ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02752.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 2596-2603 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hsueh-Fen S Kao ◽

Mary R Lynn

Keyword(s):

Family Caregivers ◽

Mexican American ◽

Medication Administration ◽

American Family ◽

Mexican American Family

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Predicting perceived medication-related hassles in dementia family caregivers

Dementia ◽

10.1177/1471301215618570 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 797-810 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nika R George ◽

Ann M Steffen

Keyword(s):

Family Caregivers ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Medication Management ◽

Medication Administration ◽

Self Report ◽

Care Recipient ◽

Cognitively Impaired ◽

Prescription Medications ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Independent Variables

Objective This study examined predictors of medication administration hassles reported by intergenerational dementia family caregivers. Methods A sample of 53 women who aided a cognitively impaired older adult with healthcare and who identified as inter-generational caregivers provided self-report medication management and psychosocial data. Results Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that six independent variables hypothesized for this model, the total number of prescription medications managed by caregivers, educational attainment, care-recipient functional impairment, care-recipient cognitive impairment, caregiver depressive symptomatology, and self-reported feelings of preparedness for the caregiving role together significantly predicted caregiver medication administration hassles scores F(1, 48) = 4.90, p = .032, and accounted for approximately 25% of the variance of self-reported hassles (adjusted R2 = .247). Discussion Future interventions may reduce medication-related hassles by providing psychoeducation about healthcare, medication management, and strategies for coping with care-related stressors and depressed mood.

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Organization, teamwork, and advocacy: Important skills needed by hospice family caregivers who manage medications.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2014.32.31_suppl.121 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (31_suppl) ◽

pp. 121-121

Author(s):

Jennifer Tjia ◽

Maija Reblin ◽

Celeste Lemay ◽

Margaret Clayton ◽

Lee Ellington

Keyword(s):

Family Caregivers ◽

Medication Management ◽

Medication Administration ◽

Vital Role ◽

Unintended Effects ◽

Management Skills ◽

Organizational Skills ◽

Life Issues ◽

Drug Knowledge ◽

Long Acting

121 Background: In the home hospice setting, family caregivers (CGs) often assume medication administration responsibilities traditionally performed by licensed nurses. Little is known about how to assess and support CG medication management skills. As part of an ongoing study of nurse-caregiver interactions in home hospice, we gathered data on CG medication management needs. Methods: A longitudinal, multicenter study of home hospice nurse visits captured audiorecorded communication between nurses and CGs. Participants included patients with cancer and their self-identified CGs who were recruited upon home hospice enrollment. The current sub-study included participants aged ≥65 and their family CGs from 7 hospice agencies. Two investigators independently coded transcriptions of the first audio recorded nurse home visit using a directive content analytic approach to map conversations to a previously published, interview-derived, framework for hospice medication management by CGs. Results: A total of 18 patients (mean age 76.5 [SD 10.7], 56% female) and their CGs (mean age 59.6 [SD13.4], 78% female) were included. Content analysis revealed that CG skills needed for medication management are not limited to drug knowledge. Complicated organizational skills are needed to track medication acquisition and dosing, record the use of short- and long-acting drugs with similar modes of action, and coordinate medication administration by multiple CGs. Teamwork skills are needed to help coordinate medication prescribing between specialist, primary, and hospice physicians. CGs also need symptom management skills regarding the proper selection of medications, as well as skills to manage side effects, inadvertent errors, and possible medication related-emergencies. CGs play a vital role in patient advocacy, alerting providers to the burden and quality of life issues related to medication use, including whether medications have intended or unintended effects, or are potentially unnecessary or causing harm. Conclusions: CGs must have multiple skills to effectively manage medications in home hospice. A systematic approach and intervention is needed to support CGs’ medication management skills.

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Learning Needs and Quality Care Among Family Caregivers and Elderly Patients of Guadalupe, Cebu City, Central Philippines

European Scientific Journal ESJ ◽

10.19044/esj.2017.v13n24p356 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (24) ◽

pp. 356

Author(s):

Ivan Cliff Chan Alvarez ◽

Marylou B. Ong ◽

Ferdinand T. Abocejo

Keyword(s):

Elderly Patients ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

The Elderly ◽

Medication Administration ◽

Primary Data ◽

Cluster Sampling ◽

Learning Needs ◽

Knowledge And Skills

This study assessed the learning needs of the family caregivers based on knowledge, skills, attitude and values (KSAV), their quality of care services and the elderly patients’ assessment on the quality of the provided care. The study utilised a descriptive-normative method employing survey research design utilizing a randomized cluster sampling technique. Primary data were collected using a standardised modified interview guide. Face-toface interviews were carried out to family caregivers and elderly patients in Guadalupe Village, Cebu City, Central Philippines. Findings revealed that caregiving jobs are mostly handled by women. Likewise, there were more female than male elderly patients, almost three-fourths of them attained high school or lower level education. Family caregivers’ possessed very good attitude and values. They were also good in terms of knowledge and skills toward the care of elderly patients. Similarly, elderly patients view their caregivers to be very good in attitude and values and good in terms of knowledge and skills. In conclusion, the learning needs among family care givers dealt more on understanding the nature, medical conditions, medication administration, caregiving techniques, diet and nutrition, ambulation techniques and strategies, financial supports from peers and total care management of the elderly patients. The provision of these learning needs anchored on the knowledge, skills, attitude and values ensures the caregivers from experiencing depressions, desperations, and self-isolation.

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