Experiences of being a family caregiver to a patient treated for oesophageal cancer—1 year after surgery
| Autor: | Yvonne Wengström, Pernilla Lagergren, Anna Schandl, Cecilia H. Ringborg |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Esophageal Neoplasms Cancer survivorship Psychosocial aspects media_common.quotation_subject Family perspectives Psychology of self Surveys and Questionnaires Survivorship curve Health care Humans Medicine Family Prospective Studies Qualitative Research media_common business.industry Family caregivers Nursing research Surgery Caregivers Oncology Feeling Original Article Qualitative study Thematic analysis business Qualitative research |
| Zdroj: | Supportive Care in Cancer |
| ISSN: | 1433-7339 0941-4355 |
| Popis: | Purpose There is a need to put family caregivers on the cancer survivorship research agenda. Therefore, the aim of this is study is to explore the experiences of being a family caregiver to a patient treated for oesophageal cancer. Method This qualitative study was based on the ongoing nationwide and prospective Oesophageal Surgery on Cancer patients – Adaptation and Recovery study (OSCAR) including patients surgically treated for oesophageal cancer in Sweden and their closest family caregiver. One year after the patient’s surgery, each family caregiver received a self-report questionnaire kit to fill in. For the purpose of this study, the responses to the open-ended question “Is there anything else you would like to share?” were used and analysed by conducting thematic analysis. Results In total, 112 responses to the open-ended question were transcribed and analysed. The text rendered three themes: Discontinued support from healthcare—mostly a positive experience before surgery and in the acute survivorship phase. However, after discharge from the hospital, the family caregiver felt as though they were left alone, fully responsible for the patient’s care. A changed life—unprepared for life-changing situation after the patient received the cancer diagnosis. A feeling that nothing will ever be the same and like your sense of self is lost. Psychological distress—was described as a feeling of being alone. Family caregivers felt invisible and no longer important to family and friends. The patient was the one that mattered. Conclusion This study indicates that patients and family caregivers would benefit from a more family-centred healthcare, where the patients’ as well as the caregivers’ perspectives would be acknowledged. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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