Undefined and unpredictable responsibility: a focus group study of the experiences of informal caregiver spouses of patients with severe COPD

TY - JOUR

T1 - Undefined and unpredictable responsibility

T2 - a focus group study of the experiences of informal caregiver spouses of patients with severe COPD

AU - Bove, Dorthe Gaby

AU - Zakrisson, Ann-Britt

AU - Midtgaard, Julie

AU - Lomborg, Kirsten

AU - Overgaard, Dorthe

N1 - © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2016/2/1

Y1 - 2016/2/1

N2 - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore how spouses of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experience their role as informal caregiver.BACKGROUND: Informal caregiver spouses are of pivotal importance in the way that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cope with their daily life, including their opportunity to stay at home and avoid hospitalisations in the last stages of the disease. However, caregiving is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among caregivers. Further understanding of the role as an informal caregiver spouse of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is needed to develop supportive interventions aimed at reducing the caregiver burden.DESIGN: The study had a qualitative exploratory design. The data collection and analysis were based on framework method. Framework method is a thematic methodology and consists of five key stages: familiarisation, identifying a thematic framework, indexing, charting and mapping & interpretation.METHODS: Three focus groups were conducted in November 2013 with 22 spouses of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.RESULTS: Undefined and unpredictable responsibility was found to be the overarching theme describing the informal caregiver role. Underlying themes were: being constantly in a state of alertness, social life modified, maintaining normality, ambivalence in the relationship and a willingness to be involved.CONCLUSIONS: The informal caregiver spouses experienced ambiguity about expectations from their private and the health professionals' surroundings. The informal caregiver spouses wanted to provide meaningful care for their partners, but sought knowledge and support from the health professionals.RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: We recommend that nurses take on the responsibility for including the informal caregiver spouses in those aspects of decision-making that involve the common life of the patients and their spouses.

AB - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore how spouses of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experience their role as informal caregiver.BACKGROUND: Informal caregiver spouses are of pivotal importance in the way that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cope with their daily life, including their opportunity to stay at home and avoid hospitalisations in the last stages of the disease. However, caregiving is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among caregivers. Further understanding of the role as an informal caregiver spouse of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is needed to develop supportive interventions aimed at reducing the caregiver burden.DESIGN: The study had a qualitative exploratory design. The data collection and analysis were based on framework method. Framework method is a thematic methodology and consists of five key stages: familiarisation, identifying a thematic framework, indexing, charting and mapping & interpretation.METHODS: Three focus groups were conducted in November 2013 with 22 spouses of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.RESULTS: Undefined and unpredictable responsibility was found to be the overarching theme describing the informal caregiver role. Underlying themes were: being constantly in a state of alertness, social life modified, maintaining normality, ambivalence in the relationship and a willingness to be involved.CONCLUSIONS: The informal caregiver spouses experienced ambiguity about expectations from their private and the health professionals' surroundings. The informal caregiver spouses wanted to provide meaningful care for their partners, but sought knowledge and support from the health professionals.RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: We recommend that nurses take on the responsibility for including the informal caregiver spouses in those aspects of decision-making that involve the common life of the patients and their spouses.

KW - Adaptation, Psychological

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Caregivers

KW - Female

KW - Focus Groups

KW - Humans

KW - Longitudinal Studies

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

KW - Spouses

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1111/jocn.13076

DO - 10.1111/jocn.13076

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26818373

SN - 0962-1067

VL - 25

SP - 483

EP - 493

JO - Journal of Clinical Nursing

JF - Journal of Clinical Nursing

IS - 3-4

ER -