Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T23:19:53.914Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Factors associated with feelings of reward during ongoing family palliative caregiving

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2014

Anette Henriksson*
Affiliation:
Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Capio Geriatrics, Palliative care unit, Dalens Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Ida Carlander
Affiliation:
Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics Medical Management Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Kristofer Årestedt
Affiliation:
Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Medical Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden School of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Anette Henriksson, Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University Collage and Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

Of the few studies that have paid attention to feelings of reward in family palliative caregiving, most are retrospective and examine the experiences of bereaved family caregivers. Although feeling rewarded has been described as an influence that may facilitate the way family caregivers handle the caregiving situation, no study has sought to identify the factors associated with feelings of reward while providing ongoing family palliative care. The aim of this study, therefore, was to identify influential factors in feelings of reward experienced by family palliative caregivers.

Method:

Our study had a correlational cross-sectional design. Family caregivers (n = 125) of patients receiving specialized palliative care were consecutively recruited from four settings. These caregivers answered a questionnaire that included the Rewards of Caregiving Scale (RCS). This questionnaire included questions about demographic background and scales to measure preparedness for caregiving, feelings of hope, perceived health, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with rewards.

Results:

The results demonstrated that the more prepared caregivers with higher levels of hope felt more rewarded, while caregivers with higher levels of anxiety and those in a spousal relationship with the patient felt less rewarded by caregiving.

Significance of results:

It seems reasonable that feeling rewarded can be a significant contributor to the overall experience of providing ongoing palliative care. The situation of family caregivers has been shown to be multifaceted and complex, and such covariant factors as preparedness, anxiety, hope, and being in a spousal relationship with the patient to influence this experience.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Andershed, B. (2006). Relatives in end-of-life care, Part 1: A systematic review of the literature the five last years, January 1999–February 2004. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 15, 11581169.Google Scholar
Archbold, P. & Stewart, B. (1996). Family caregiving inventory. Portland: Oregon Health Sciences University.Google Scholar
Archbold, P.G., Stewart, B.J., Greenlick, M.R., et al. (1990). Mutuality and preparedness as predictors of caregiver role strain. Research in Nursing & Health, 13, 375384.Google Scholar
Benzein, E. & Berg, A. (2003). The Swedish version of the Herth Hope Index: An instrument for palliative care. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 17, 409415.Google Scholar
Benzein, E., Norberg, A. & Saveman, B.I. (2001). The meaning of the lived experience of hope in patients with cancer in palliative home care. Palliative Medicine, 15, 117126.Google Scholar
Brazil, K., Bedard, M., Willison, K., et al. (2003). Caregiving and its impact on families of the terminally ill. Aging & Mental Health, 7, 376382.Google Scholar
Candy, B., Jones, L., Drake, R., et al. (2011). Interventions for supporting informal caregivers of patients in the terminal phase of a disease. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 15(6), CD007617. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007617.pub2.Google Scholar
Carlander, I., Sahlberg-Blom, E., Hellstrom, I., et al. (2011 a). The modified self: Family caregivers' experiences of caring for a dying family member at home. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 20, 10971105.Google Scholar
Carlander, I., Ternestedt, B.M., Sahlberg-Blom, E., et al. (2011 b). Being me and being us in a family living close to death at home. Qualitative Health Research, 21, 683695.Google Scholar
Caserta, M., Lund, D., Utz, R., et al. (2009). Stress-related growth among the recently bereaved. Aging & Mental Health, 13, 463476.Google Scholar
Cohen, C.A., Colantonio, A. & Vernich, L. (2002). Positive aspects of caregiving: Rounding out the caregiver experience. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17, 184188.Google Scholar
Duggleby, W., Holtslander, L., Kylma, J., et al. (2010). Metasynthesis of the hope experience of family caregivers of persons with chronic illness. Qualitative Health Research, 20, 148158.Google Scholar
Eggenberger, S.K. & Nelms, T.P. (2007). Being family: The family experience when an adult member is hospitalized with a critical illness. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 16, 16181628.Google Scholar
Folkman, S. (2010). Stress, coping, and hope. Psycho-Oncology, 19, 901908.Google Scholar
Forsberg, C. & Bjorvell, H. (1993). Swedish population norms for the GHRI, HI and STAI–state. Quality of Life Research, 2, 349356.Google Scholar
Given, C.W., Stommel, M., Given, B., et al. (1993). The influence of cancer patients' symptoms and functional states on patients' depression and family caregivers' reaction and depression. Health Psychology, 12, 277285.Google Scholar
Gough, K. & Hudson, P. (2009). Psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in family caregivers of palliative care patients. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 37, 797806.Google Scholar
Grande, G., Stajduhar, K., Aoun, S., et al. (2009). Supporting lay carers in end-of-life care: Current gaps and future priorities. Palliative Medicine, 23, 339344.Google Scholar
Hebert, R.S., Dang, Q. & Schulz, R. (2006). Preparedness for the death of a loved one and mental health in bereaved caregivers of patients with dementia: Findings from the REACH study. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9, 683693.Google Scholar
Henriksson, A. & Årestedt, K. (2013). Exploring factors and caregiver outcomes associated with feelings of preparedness for caregiving in family caregivers in palliative care: A correlational, cross-sectional study. Palliative Medicine, 27, 639646.Google Scholar
Henriksson, A., Andershed, B., Benzein, E., et al. (2012). Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Competence Scale and Rewards of Caregiving Scale in a sample of Swedish family members of patients with life-threatening illness. Palliative Medicine, 26, 930938.Google Scholar
Henriksson, A., Årestedt, K., Benzein, E., et al. (2013 a). Effects of a support group programme for patients with life-threatening illness during ongoing palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 27, 257264.Google Scholar
Henriksson, A., Carlander, I. & Årestedt, K. (2013 a). Feelings of rewards among family caregivers during ongoing palliative care. Palliative & Supportive Care, 16, 19.Google Scholar
Herth, K. (1992). Abbreviated instrument to measure hope: Development and psychometric evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 17, 1251–129.Google Scholar
Hudson, P. (2003). A conceptual model and key variables for guiding supportive interventions for family caregivers of people receiving palliative care. Palliative & Supportive Care, 1, 353365.Google Scholar
Hudson, P. (2004). Positive aspects and challenges associated with caring for a dying relative at home. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 10, 5865.Google Scholar
Hudson, P.L. (2006). How well do family caregivers cope after caring for a relative with advanced disease and how can health professionals enhance their support? Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9, 694703.Google Scholar
Hudson, P.L. & Hayman-White, K. (2006). Measuring the psychosocial characteristics of family caregivers of palliative care patients: Psychometric properties of nine self-report instruments. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 31, 215228.Google Scholar
Hudson, P. & Payne, S. (eds.) (2009). Family carers in palliative care. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Hudson, P.L., Aranda, S. & Kristjanson, L.J. (2004). Meeting the supportive needs of family caregivers in palliative care: Challenges for health professionals. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 7, 1925.Google Scholar
Hudson, P.L., Remedios, C. & Thomas, K. (2010). A systematic review of psychosocial interventions for family carers of palliative care patients. BMC Palliative Care, 9, 17.Google Scholar
Hudson, P.L., Thomas, K., Trauer, T., et al. (2011). Psychological and social profile of family caregivers on commencement of palliative care. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 41, 522534.Google Scholar
Kang, J., Shin, D.W., Choi, J.E., et al. (2013). Factors associated with positive consequences of serving as a family caregiver for a terminal cancer patient. Psycho-Oncology, 22, 564571.Google Scholar
Koop, P.M. & Strang, V.R. (2003). The bereavement experience following home-based family caregiving for persons with advanced cancer. Clinical Nursing Research, 12, 127144.Google Scholar
Langius, A., Bjorvell, H. & Lind, M.G. (1993). Oral- and pharyngeal-cancer patients' perceived symptoms and health. Cancer Nursing, 16, 214221.Google Scholar
Lisspers, J., Nygren, A. & Soderman, E. (1997). Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS): Some psychometric data for a Swedish sample. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 96, 281286.Google Scholar
Mechanic, D. (1974). Social structure and personal adaptation: Some neglected dimensions. In Coping and adaptation. Coelho, G. et al. (eds.), pp. 3246. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Milberg, A., Strang, P., Carlsson, M., et al. (2003). Advanced palliative home care: Next-of-kin's perspective. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 6, 749756.Google Scholar
Milberg, A., Strang, P. & Jakobsson, M. (2004). Next of kin's experience of powerlessness and helplessness in palliative home care. Supportive Care in Cancer, 12, 120128.Google Scholar
Mok, E., Chan, F., Chan, V., et al. (2003). Family experience caring for terminally ill patients with cancer in Hong Kong. Cancer Nursing, 26, 267275.Google Scholar
Nordstrom, G., Nyman, C.R. & Theorell, T. (1992). Psychosocial adjustment and general state of health in patients with ileal conduit urinary diversion. Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology, 26, 139147.Google Scholar
Oldham, L. & Kristjanson, L.J. (2004). Development of a pain management programme for family carers of advanced cancer patients. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 10, 9199.Google Scholar
Pandey, S. & Elliot, W. (2010). Suppressor variables in social work research: Ways to identify in multiple regression models. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 1, 2840.Google Scholar
Proot, I.M., Abu-Saad, H.H., Crebolder, H.F., et al. (2003). Vulnerability of family caregivers in terminal palliative care at home; Balancing between burden and capacity. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 17, 113121.Google Scholar
Rand, K.L. (2009). Hope and optimism: Latent structures and influences on grade expectancy and academic performance. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 77, 231260.Google Scholar
Schumacher, K.L., Stewart, B.J. & Archbold, P.G. (1998). Conceptualization and measurement of doing family caregiving well. Image—The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 30, 6369.Google Scholar
Schumacher, K.L., Stewart, B.J., Archbold, P.G., et al. (2008). Effects of caregiving demand, mutuality, and preparedness on family caregiver outcomes during cancer treatment. Oncology Nursing Forum, 35, 4956.Google Scholar
Shyu, Y.I., Yang, C.T., Huang, C.C., et al. (2010). Influences of mutuality, preparedness, and balance on caregivers of patients with dementia. Journal of Nursing Research, 18, 155163.Google Scholar
Smith, P. (2004). Working with family caregivers in a palliative care setting. In Palliative care nursing. Principles and evidence for practice. Payne, S. et al. (eds.), pp. 312329. New York: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Stajduhar, K.I. (2003). Examining the perspectives of family members involved in the delivery of palliative care at home. Journal of Palliative Care, 19, 2735.Google Scholar
Stajduhar, K.I. & Davies, B. (2005). Variations in and factors influencing family members' decisions for palliative home care. Palliative Medicine, 19, 2132.Google Scholar
Stajduhar, K., Funk, L., Toye, C., et al. (2010). Home-based family caregiving at the end of life, Part 1: A comprehensive review of published quantitative research (1998–2008). Palliative Medicine, 24, 573593.Google Scholar
Utne, I., Miaskowski, C., Paul, S.M., et al. (2013). Association between hope and burden reported by family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 21, 25272535.Google Scholar
Wennman-Larsen, A. & Tishelman, C. (2002). Advanced home care for cancer patients at the end of life: A qualitative study of hopes and expectations of family caregivers. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 16, 240247.Google Scholar
Whittingham, K., Barnes, S. & Gardiner, C. (2013). Tools to measure quality of life and carer burden in informal carers of heart failure patients: A narrative review. Palliative Medicine, 27, 596607.Google Scholar
Wilson van Voorhis, C.R. & Morgan, B.L. (2007). Understanding power and rules of thumb for determining sample sizes. Tutorials in Quantitative Methods for Psychology, 3, 4350.Google Scholar
Wolff, J.L., Dy, S.M., Frick, K.D., et al. (2007). End-of-life care: Findings from a national survey of informal caregivers. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167, 4046.Google Scholar
Wong, W.K. & Ussher, J. (2009). Bereaved informal cancer carers making sense of their palliative care experiences at home. Health and Social Care in the Community, 17, 274282.Google Scholar
Wong, W.K., Ussher, J. & Perz, J. (2009). Strength through adversity: Bereaved cancer carers' accounts of rewards and personal growth from caring. Palliative & Supportive Care, 7, 187196.Google Scholar
Zigmond, A.S. & Snaith, R.P. (1983). The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 67, 361370.Google Scholar