Adjusting to the caregiving role: the importance of coping and support

Eleni Epiphaniou; David Hamilton; Susanne Bridger; Vicky Robinson; George Rob; Teresa Beynon; Irene Higginson; Richard Harding

Adjusting to the caregiving role: the importance of coping and support

Eleni Epiphaniou, David Hamilton, Susanne Bridger, Vicky Robinson, George Rob, Teresa Beynon, Irene Higginson, Richard Harding

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Although informal end-of-life care is associated with significant physical and psychological morbidity for caregivers, few interventions have been developed to meet these needs. This study aimed to identify existing coping and support mechanisms among informal cancer caregivers in order to inform intervention development.
Method: One-to-one semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with 20 informal cancer caregivers of home palliative care patients.
Results: Caregivers' existing coping strategies included distraction, mental stimulation, emotional release, looking for the positive aspects of caregiving, and disengaging from stressful thoughts. The majority of the participants described the importance of support and understanding from family and friends.
Conclusions: The data suggests that feasible and acceptable interventions will be those that are targeted to caregivers to assist them in optimising existing coping strategies and support from family and friends.

Original language	English
Article number	N/A
Pages (from-to)	541-545
Number of pages	5
Journal	International Journal of Palliative Nursing
Volume	18
Issue number	11
Publication status	Published - 23 Nov 2012

Keywords

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Caregivers
Female
Great Britain
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Role
Social Support
State Medicine

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

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title = "Adjusting to the caregiving role: the importance of coping and support",

abstract = "Background: Although informal end-of-life care is associated with significant physical and psychological morbidity for caregivers, few interventions have been developed to meet these needs. This study aimed to identify existing coping and support mechanisms among informal cancer caregivers in order to inform intervention development. Method: One-to-one semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with 20 informal cancer caregivers of home palliative care patients. Results: Caregivers' existing coping strategies included distraction, mental stimulation, emotional release, looking for the positive aspects of caregiving, and disengaging from stressful thoughts. The majority of the participants described the importance of support and understanding from family and friends. Conclusions: The data suggests that feasible and acceptable interventions will be those that are targeted to caregivers to assist them in optimising existing coping strategies and support from family and friends.",

keywords = "Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Caregivers, Female, Great Britain, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Role, Social Support, State Medicine",

author = "Eleni Epiphaniou and David Hamilton and Susanne Bridger and Vicky Robinson and George Rob and Teresa Beynon and Irene Higginson and Richard Harding",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Adjusting to the caregiving role

T2 - the importance of coping and support

AU - Epiphaniou, Eleni

AU - Hamilton, David

AU - Bridger, Susanne

AU - Robinson, Vicky

AU - Rob, George

AU - Beynon, Teresa

AU - Higginson, Irene

AU - Harding, Richard

PY - 2012/11/23

Y1 - 2012/11/23

N2 - Background: Although informal end-of-life care is associated with significant physical and psychological morbidity for caregivers, few interventions have been developed to meet these needs. This study aimed to identify existing coping and support mechanisms among informal cancer caregivers in order to inform intervention development. Method: One-to-one semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with 20 informal cancer caregivers of home palliative care patients. Results: Caregivers' existing coping strategies included distraction, mental stimulation, emotional release, looking for the positive aspects of caregiving, and disengaging from stressful thoughts. The majority of the participants described the importance of support and understanding from family and friends. Conclusions: The data suggests that feasible and acceptable interventions will be those that are targeted to caregivers to assist them in optimising existing coping strategies and support from family and friends.

AB - Background: Although informal end-of-life care is associated with significant physical and psychological morbidity for caregivers, few interventions have been developed to meet these needs. This study aimed to identify existing coping and support mechanisms among informal cancer caregivers in order to inform intervention development. Method: One-to-one semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with 20 informal cancer caregivers of home palliative care patients. Results: Caregivers' existing coping strategies included distraction, mental stimulation, emotional release, looking for the positive aspects of caregiving, and disengaging from stressful thoughts. The majority of the participants described the importance of support and understanding from family and friends. Conclusions: The data suggests that feasible and acceptable interventions will be those that are targeted to caregivers to assist them in optimising existing coping strategies and support from family and friends.

KW - Adaptation, Psychological

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Caregivers

KW - Female

KW - Great Britain

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Role

KW - Social Support

KW - State Medicine

M3 - Article

C2 - 23413502

SN - 1357-6321

VL - 18

SP - 541

EP - 545

JO - International Journal of Palliative Nursing

JF - International Journal of Palliative Nursing

IS - 11

M1 - N/A

ER -

Adjusting to the caregiving role: the importance of coping and support

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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