scholarly journals Manifestations and intensity of psychological stress of the family members of incurable cancer patients

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 010114
Author(s):  
Iryna Koval
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Psychological Responses ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Incurable Cancer ◽  
Distress Level ◽  
The Family

The study has looked into the manifestations and intensity of psychological stress experienced by family members of incurable cancer patients. Of the surveyed family members 60.7% demonstrated adjustment disorders, which psychologically were manifest in threshold distress level and high psychological and social stress levels, as well as psychological pathologic symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity and somatic health problems. The psychological responses of the family members were directly linked to the patient’s condition, whereby changes in the somatic and psychological condition of the patient acted as “triggers” of psychological responses of the family members.

Treatment decision-making for older adults with cancer: A qualitative study

2020 ◽  
pp. 096973302094575
Author(s):  
Ni Gong ◽  
Qianqian Du ◽  
Hongyu Lou ◽  
Yiheng Zhang ◽  
Hengying Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Chinese Society ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Treatment Decision Making ◽  
The Family ◽  
Older Cancer Patients

Background: Independent decision-making is one of the basic rights of patients. However, in clinical practice, most older cancer patients’ treatment decisions are made by family members. Objective: This study attempted to analyze the treatment decision-making process and formation mechanism for older cancer patients within the special cultural context of Chinese medical practice. Method: A qualitative study was conducted. With the sample saturation principle, data collected by in-depth interviews with 17 family members and 12 patients were subjected to thematic analysis. Ethical considerations: The study was approved by the ethics committees of Sun Yat-sen University. All participants provided verbal informed consent after being told their rights of confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation. They had the right to refuse to answer questions and could withdraw at any time. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) complex process; (2) transformation of family decision-making power; and (3) individual compromise. Family members inevitably had different opinions during the long process of treatment decision-making for older cancer patients. The direction of this process could be regarded as an extension of the family power relationship. The patient usually compromised the decision to survive, which was made by family members. Conclusion: This study describes the treatment decision-making process of older cancer patients in the context of Chinese culture. The reasons underlying this process are related to the views on life and death and family values. An individual is a part of the family, which is often seen as the minimal interpersonal unit in Chinese society. It is significant that while emphasizing patient autonomy in the decision-making process, health professionals should also pay attention to the important roles of culture and family.

scholarly journals Family members of cancer patients: Needs, quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanna Friðriksdóttir ◽  
Þórunn Sævarsdóttir ◽  
Svandís Íris Halfdánardóttir ◽  
Arndís Jónsdóttir ◽  
Hrefna Magnúsdóttir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Anxiety And Depression

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 A study on family function status and its influencing factors of frontline health workers fighting Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Family Dysfunction ◽  
Anxiety Level ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Family Function ◽  
The Family ◽  
Working Status

Objective: To understand the family function, psychological status, and influencing factors of the family members of the frontline medical staff fighting COVID-19. Methods: A psychological questionnaire survey was conducted on the families of 189 clinical front line medical staff who participated in the fight against COVID-19 by using the general information questionnaire, the fam- ily care index scale (APGAR), the generalized anxiety scale (GAD-7), and the depression screening scale (PHQ-9), and the influencing factors were analyzed. Results: The score of family function was 7.00 (5.00, 10.00), 105 individuals (55.6%) had good family function, 72 individuals (38.1%) had moderate family dysfunction, and 12 of them (6.3%) had severe family dysfunction. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender, age, educational background, working status during the epidemic, and anxiety level were the influencing factors of the family function status of frontline medical staff (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The family function of the medical staff participating in the clinical frontline fight against COVID-19 is at a medium level. Gender, age, educational background, working status during the epidemic, and anxiety level are the influencing factors of the family function status of this group. The family members of medical personnel have a certain extent of anxiety and depression, so the nursing manager should improve the family function and relieve them of anxiety and depression through psychological counseling and humanistic care, so as to improve their family function.

Communicating With Realism and Hope: Incurable Cancer Patients' Views on the Disclosure of Prognosis

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1278-1288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca G. Hagerty ◽  
Phyllis N. Butow ◽  
Peter M. Ellis ◽  
Elizabeth A. Lobb ◽  
Susan C. Pendlebury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Metastatic Cancer ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Prognostic Information ◽  
Incurable Cancer ◽  
Individualized Care ◽  
The Family ◽  
Individualized Approach ◽  
Seeking Behavior

PurposeTo identify preferences for the process of prognostic discussion among patients with incurable metastatic cancer and variables associated with those preferences.Patients and MethodsOne hundred twenty-six (58%) of 218 patients invited onto the study participated. Eligible patients were the consecutive metastatic cancer patients of 30 oncologists, who were diagnosed within 6 weeks to 6 months before recruitment, over 18 years of age, and without known mental illness. Patients completed a postal survey measuring patient preferences for the manner of delivery of prognostic information, including how doctors might instill hope.ResultsNinety-eight percent of patients wanted their doctor to be realistic, provide an opportunity to ask questions, and acknowledge them as an individual when discussing prognosis. Doctor behaviors rated the most hope giving included offering the most up to date treatment (90%), appearing to know all there is to know about the patient's cancer (87%), and saying that pain will be controlled (87%). The majority of patients indicated that the doctor appearing to be nervous or uncomfortable (91%), giving the prognosis to the family first (87%), or using euphemisms (82%) would not facilitate hope. Factor analysis revealed six general styles and three hope factors; the most strongly endorsed styles were realism and individualized care and the expert/positive/collaborative approach. A range of demographic, psychological, and disease factors were associated with preferred general and hope-giving styles, including anxiety, information-seeking behavior, expected survival, and age.ConclusionThe majority of patients preferred a realistic and individualized approach from the cancer specialist and detailed information when discussing prognosis.

Where to die? That is the question: A study of cancer patients in Israel

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frida Barak ◽  
Sofia Livshits ◽  
Haana Kaufer ◽  
Ruth Netanel ◽  
Nava Siegelmann-Danieli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Care Patient ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
The Family ◽  
Dying At Home ◽  
Do So ◽  
At Home

AbstractObjective:Most patients prefer to die at home, but barely 30% do so. This study examines the variables contributing to dying at home.Methods:The participants were 326 cancer patients, of both genders, with a mean age of 63.25 years, who died from 2000 to 2008 and were treated by the palliative care unit of the Barzilai Hospital. Some 65.7% died at home and 33.4% in a hospital. The data were extracted from patient files. The examined variables were demographic (e.g., age, gender, marital status, ethnic background, number of years in Israel until death), medical (e.g., age at diagnosis, diagnosis, nature of last treatment, patient received nursing care, patient given the care of a social worker, patient had care of a psychologist, family received care of a social worker, patient had a special caregiver), and sociological (e.g., having insurance, having worked in Israel, living alone or with family, living with one's children, living in self-owned or rented house, family members working).Results:The findings indicate that the chances of dying at home are higher if the patient is non-Ashkenazi, the family got social worker care, the patient lived in a self-owned house, the patient lived with his family, the family members worked, and the patient's stay in Israel since immigration was longer. Logistic regression showed that all the predictors together yielded a significant model accounting for 10.9–12.3% of the variance.Significance of results:The findings suggest that dying at home requires maintaining continued care for the patient and family in a community context.

Creating a family state of mind: using psychoanalytic ideas to treat families where children resist or refuse contact with a parent

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-52
Author(s):  
Kathy Sinsheimer
Keyword(s):  
Family Members ◽  
Psychological Responses ◽  
Complex Treatment ◽  
Family Dynamic ◽  
Transgenerational Transmission ◽  
The Family ◽  
Transmission Of Trauma ◽  
Couple State ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Family State

Separated families, where children resist or refuse visitation with one parent, present a complex treatment picture for clinicians. Application of psychoanalytic concepts can increase the clinician's understanding of the family members' response to the familial separation and inform the clinician's treatment decisions. The concepts of couple state of mind, projective gridlock, transgenerational transmission of trauma, and Nachträglichkeit, or après coup, are proposed as useful in appreciating the family members' individual and familial psychological responses to the trauma of parental separation. Multiple clinician functions necessary in the treatment of this complex family dynamic are explicated. A case example is included. Family state of mind is proposed as a newly named function for the clinician as well as the family members.

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