Palliative family caregivers’ accounts of health care experiences: The importance of “security”
Date
2009-11-26
Authors
Funk, Laura M.
Allan, Diane E.
Stajduhar, Kelli I.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
Objective: When providing care for a loved one with a terminal illness, family members often
look to health care providers for guidance and expertise. The objective of this study is to explore
family caregiver accounts of their experienceswithin the health care system and with individual
providers.
Methods: A thematic analysis of secondary qualitative data was performed. Data are from
a subsample of bereaved and current family caregivers (N ¼ 31) in a prior study of coping in
end-of-life cancer situations. Data from these participants referring to experiences with
health care providers was thematically coded and the concept of “security” was used as an
analytic lens to facilitate conceptual development and exploration.
Results: Considered together, the findings can be viewed as manifestations of a need and
desire for security in palliative family caregiving. Specifically, family caregivers’ accounts
illustrate the importance of feeling secure that health care services will be provided by
competent professionals; feeling secure in their timely access to needed care, services, and
information; and feeling secure in their own identity and self-worth as a caregiver and
individual. In addition, the findings suggest a conceptualization of security that extends beyond
trust in individuals to include a generalized sense of institutional trust in the health care
system.
Significance of results: The concept of security moves beyond description of individual
satisfaction or dissatisfaction with health care to identify a common, foundational need
underlying such evaluations. Further empirical research is needed that explicitly focuses on
caregivers’ experiences of security and insecurity in the domains identified in this article. This
will contribute to theory building as well as assist in identifying the causes and consequences
of security.
Description
Keywords
Family caregiving, Palliative, Security, Health care satisfaction
Citation
Laura M. Funk, Diane E. Allan and Kelli I. Stajduhar (2009). Palliative family caregivers' accounts of health care experiences: The importance of “security”. Palliative and Supportive Care, 7, pp 435-447. doi:10.1017/S1478951509990447.