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Meeting needs of family members of persons with life-threatening illness: A support group program during ongoing palliative care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2011

Anette Henriksson ,
Eva Benzein ,
Britt-Marie Ternestedt  and
Birgitta Andershed
Anette Henriksson*
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Gjøvik University College, Norway
Eva Benzein
Affiliation:
School of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden Department of Palliative Care Research, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden
Britt-Marie Ternestedt
Affiliation:
Department of Palliative Care Research, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska institute, Stockholm, Sweden Research and Development Unit, Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
Birgitta Andershed
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Gjøvik University College, Norway Department of Palliative Care Research, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Anette Henriksson, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, 70182 Örebro, Sweden. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

The aim of the study was to describe family members' experiences of content, structure, and approach of a potential intervention including a support group program for family members of persons with life-threatening illness.

Method:

The study was a pilot project in a developmental phase in which a potential intervention, a support group program, was investigated. The design of the study was qualitative descriptive. Twenty-nine family members were interviewed by telephone after taking part in the program. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results:

The results indicate that the support group program could work as an acceptable and useful intervention for family members. The program was experienced to cover topics of immediate interest reflecting life close to severely ill persons. The structure of the program was found to be inviting, offering an opportunity to establish relationships with other participants and the caring team in a warm atmosphere.

Significance of results:

The study indicates the importance of health professionals inviting and interacting with family members during ongoing palliative care. The results could inspire nursing staff to initiate, develop, and deliver similar interventions.

Keywords

FamilyInterventionLife-threatening illnessPalliative careSupport group
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , September 2011 , pp. 263 - 271
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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