Articles: caregivers.
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Although end-of-life (EOL) care can present a substantial financial burden for the household, the influence of this burden on the intensity of care received at the EOL remains unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the association between financial hardship and intensive care in the last week of life. ⋯ The depletion of a family's financial resources is a significant predictor of intensive EOL care, over and above the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and patient preferences.
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Multicenter Study
Understanding and meeting information needs following unintentional injury: Comparing the accounts of patients, carers and service providers.
To explore information needs of unintentional injury patients and their carers over time, across services, and how such needs are met from the perspectives of patients, carers and service providers. ⋯ Providing information on injury management, prognosis and available services and reassurance at each stage of the recovery process in secondary care and when transferring to primary care would be helpful for patients and carers. A follow-up contact soon after discharge and the opportunity to ask questions could be beneficial. Better information about the patient's needs and ways they can help could help carers fulfil their caring role.
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BMC palliative care · Jan 2015
Multicenter StudyEnd-of-life care research with bereaved informal caregivers--analysis of recruitment strategy and participation rate from a multi-centre validation study.
One essential element of research is the successful recruitment of participants. However, concerns are obvious regarding the ethical implications of involving terminally ill and even dying patients and their informal caregivers as research participants. This study aims to illustrate central issues encountered when recruiting bereaved informal caregivers for a questionnaire validation study on the quality of dying and death. ⋯ The recruitment strategy can be recommended to other researchers developing research with bereaved carers. The burden caused by study participation was acceptable to the researchers carrying out this research, although a small group of participants experienced high levels of burden which should be anticipated and appropriate support services offered. Family caregivers are willing to support end-of-life care research, have different motivations for participation and even reported benefits from participation. Nevertheless, study designs have to take into account and ease the potential burden of interviews for caregivers experiencing grief.
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Multicenter Study
Dying at home: a qualitative study of family carers' views of support provided by GPs community staff.
Dying at home is the preference of many patients with life-limiting illness. This is often not achieved and a key factor is the availability of willing and able family carers. ⋯ The requirement for continuity in delivering complex end-of-life care has long been acknowledged. Family carers in this study suggested that minimising the number of carers involved in care, increasing or ensuring personal continuity, and maximising the informational and organisational aspects of care could lead to a more positive experience.
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Individuals with chronic diseases and parent caregivers are at increased risk for symptoms of depression and anxiety. Prevalence of psychological symptoms was evaluated in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) and parent caregivers across nine countries. ⋯ Symptoms of depression and anxiety were elevated in both patients with CF and parents across several European countries and the USA. Annual screening of psychological symptoms is recommended for both patients and parents.