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The experience of being an informal “carer” for a person with cancer: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2014

Karen Seal ,
Craig D. Murray  and
Lesley Seddon
Karen Seal
Affiliation:
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, United Kingdom
Craig D. Murray*
Affiliation:
School of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
Lesley Seddon
Affiliation:
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, United Kingdom
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Craig D. Murray, School of Health and Medicine, Furness Building, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YT, United Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected].
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Abstract

Objective:

Increasingly, family or friends are providing care to those with cancer. However, the majority of those assuming the caring role have no prior knowledge related to the provision of care. The present study aimed to explore the experiences of informal carers with respect to their role, thus determining ways that services may support transition to this role.

Method:

In order to obtain an in-depth view of such experience, a qualitative meta-synthesis was employed to review the findings of 17 studies.

Results:

Out of this synthesis, three main concepts were developed: (1) identity and adopting the caring role, (2) the perception of care tasks, and (3) relationship dynamic changes as a result of caring.

Significance of Results:

The implications for professional practice are discussed.

Keywords

CancerCarerCopingAdjustmentQualitativeSynthesis
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , June 2015 , pp. 493 - 504
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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