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Caregivers’ perceptions about terminally ill family members’ quality of life
Author(s) -
MELINJOHANSSON C,
AXELSSON B.,
DANIELSON E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2006.00754.x
Subject(s) - dignity , medicine , terminally ill , quality of life (healthcare) , perception , qualitative research , family caregivers , nursing , palliative care , psychology , social science , neuroscience , sociology , political science , law
Caregivers’ perceptions on terminally ill family members’ quality of life is rarely described. The aim of this study was to describe caregivers’ perceptions about terminally ill family members’ quality of life when suffering from cancer. Four caregivers participated in repeated focus group, and the data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings were presented through five themes: ‘living a normal life’, ‘being relieved from burdens’, ‘having a sense of belonging’, ‘being a symbol of incurable illness’ and ‘having a sense of dignity’. We found that to manage daily life it was significant to keep up a normal life and participate in social life. One new insight in this study was that caregivers contributed to an extending understanding to the term meaning in which the sense of belonging was fundamental. An obstacle for the sense of belonging was illuminated as the visible signs of incurable illness that stigmatized the ill person, and influenced the dignity. This study highlights the importance of supportive actions from significant others and healthcare professionals for terminally ill family members’ quality of life.