Caring for a patient with terminal cancer poses difficulties for family caregivers. Although families of patients with cancer have been classified by type, little is known about the relation between family functioning...Caring for a patient with terminal cancer poses difficulties for family caregivers. Although families of patients with cancer have been classified by type, little is known about the relation between family functioning and quality of life (QOL) in family caregivers. This study aimed to develop a typology of family functioning in family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and then examine the relation between the family functioning and QOL of family caregivers. From December 2013 to August 2014, fifty-one family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer were recruited at three hospitals in Tokyo, Japan. Perceptions of family functioning were assessed with the Family Relationship Index, and its three subscores were classified into three groups by cluster analysis. Caregivers’ QOL was measured with the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer. The average total FRI score among 51 caregivers was 8.5 (SD = 2.8). Family functioning was categorized into three clusters: supportive (n = 12), communicative (n = 30), or conflictive (n = 8). Their QOL was categorized into two groups: the communicative group, with relatively high confliction, showed high QOL comparable to the supportive group. Family functioning in the families of patients with terminal cancer hospitalized in general wards was not good. For improving the QOL of family caregivers, it may be important for the family members to express their feelings and distress if they have conflicts.展开更多
Satisfaction with care is an important indicator for family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and is linked to the quality of life. Despite this, few studies have examined the aspects of satisfaction with ca...Satisfaction with care is an important indicator for family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and is linked to the quality of life. Despite this, few studies have examined the aspects of satisfaction with care of family caregivers of inpatients with cancer in general wards. This qualitative study aimed to elucidate the elements of satisfaction with the care that inpatients with terminal cancer in general wards and their family caregivers receive from medical staff, as perceived by the family caregivers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 family caregivers of inpatients with terminal cancer. Participants were asked about the care received until then from medical staff, the features of satisfactory care, and the aspects of care they felt were unsatisfactory or could become satisfactory with improvement. The data were analyzed with the content analysis method and the six categories were extracted. For family caregivers of inpatients with terminal cancer in general wards, along with the care identified as important in palliative care, the methods of alleviating symptoms and explaining the patient’s condition were also important. The results highlight the importance of determining a patient-oriented approach and explanations together with each patient and family caregiver, based on an understanding of the long treatment process.展开更多
Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has extended. This extension has led to an increase in the aging population in Japan and ...Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has extended. This extension has led to an increase in the aging population in Japan and globally. Providing appropriate long-term care (LTC) for PLWH has thus become increasingly critical. Our study aimed to describe LTC setting preferences and related factors among middle-aged and older Japanese people living with HIV. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two hospitals in Tokyo. One hundred seventy-five outpatients aged 40 years and above participated in this study. Participants completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire to assess where they wanted to live once they could no longer care for themselves. Approximately 52.0% preferred a designated facility for older adults or LTC, while 30.3% preferred their home or living with family, a partner, or a friend (“familiar housing”). Bivariate analyses revealed that LTC setting preference was significantly associated with marital status, whether or not the participant had at least one child, and household composition. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis revealed that participants living with non-kin were less likely to prefer living in designated housing facilities for older adults or LTC (adjusted odds ratio = 0.17, 95% confidence interval: 0.05 - 0.63). The study findings suggest that family make-up and composition of cohabiters are critical indicators for LTC setting preference in this population. These findings can be the foundation for future care planning and delivery to meet the unique LTC needs and expectations of the aging population with HIV in Japan and similar global settings.展开更多
文摘Caring for a patient with terminal cancer poses difficulties for family caregivers. Although families of patients with cancer have been classified by type, little is known about the relation between family functioning and quality of life (QOL) in family caregivers. This study aimed to develop a typology of family functioning in family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and then examine the relation between the family functioning and QOL of family caregivers. From December 2013 to August 2014, fifty-one family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer were recruited at three hospitals in Tokyo, Japan. Perceptions of family functioning were assessed with the Family Relationship Index, and its three subscores were classified into three groups by cluster analysis. Caregivers’ QOL was measured with the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer. The average total FRI score among 51 caregivers was 8.5 (SD = 2.8). Family functioning was categorized into three clusters: supportive (n = 12), communicative (n = 30), or conflictive (n = 8). Their QOL was categorized into two groups: the communicative group, with relatively high confliction, showed high QOL comparable to the supportive group. Family functioning in the families of patients with terminal cancer hospitalized in general wards was not good. For improving the QOL of family caregivers, it may be important for the family members to express their feelings and distress if they have conflicts.
文摘Satisfaction with care is an important indicator for family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and is linked to the quality of life. Despite this, few studies have examined the aspects of satisfaction with care of family caregivers of inpatients with cancer in general wards. This qualitative study aimed to elucidate the elements of satisfaction with the care that inpatients with terminal cancer in general wards and their family caregivers receive from medical staff, as perceived by the family caregivers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 family caregivers of inpatients with terminal cancer. Participants were asked about the care received until then from medical staff, the features of satisfactory care, and the aspects of care they felt were unsatisfactory or could become satisfactory with improvement. The data were analyzed with the content analysis method and the six categories were extracted. For family caregivers of inpatients with terminal cancer in general wards, along with the care identified as important in palliative care, the methods of alleviating symptoms and explaining the patient’s condition were also important. The results highlight the importance of determining a patient-oriented approach and explanations together with each patient and family caregiver, based on an understanding of the long treatment process.
文摘Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has extended. This extension has led to an increase in the aging population in Japan and globally. Providing appropriate long-term care (LTC) for PLWH has thus become increasingly critical. Our study aimed to describe LTC setting preferences and related factors among middle-aged and older Japanese people living with HIV. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two hospitals in Tokyo. One hundred seventy-five outpatients aged 40 years and above participated in this study. Participants completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire to assess where they wanted to live once they could no longer care for themselves. Approximately 52.0% preferred a designated facility for older adults or LTC, while 30.3% preferred their home or living with family, a partner, or a friend (“familiar housing”). Bivariate analyses revealed that LTC setting preference was significantly associated with marital status, whether or not the participant had at least one child, and household composition. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis revealed that participants living with non-kin were less likely to prefer living in designated housing facilities for older adults or LTC (adjusted odds ratio = 0.17, 95% confidence interval: 0.05 - 0.63). The study findings suggest that family make-up and composition of cohabiters are critical indicators for LTC setting preference in this population. These findings can be the foundation for future care planning and delivery to meet the unique LTC needs and expectations of the aging population with HIV in Japan and similar global settings.
