title: [The existential phenomenology of family care of psychiatric patients].
abstract: This study utilizes the perspectives of phenomenological approach and existential analysis to understand the common meaning and existential status of care through the description of care-giving and care-receiving experiences by both psychiatric patients and their families. Multiple perspectives and methods were used for data cellection, including participant observation and individual and group interviews. Five themes emerged from the hermeneutic data analysis which represent the existential status and types of family care for psychiatric patients: (1) Taken-for-granted care; (2) Nonexistent care; (3) Limited care; (4) Replacemental or transcendental care; (5) Displacemental or exchangeable care. Following the results, several issues are discussed. First, the existential meaning and values of family caregiving for psychiatric patients are explored. Subsequently, indigenous psychiatric mental health care problems in Taiwan are discussed. Finally, health professionals need to pay attention to the mutual existential caring status from self and others as well as the transcendental and exchangeable relationships from both the care-givers' and the care-receivers' perspectives.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tsui
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005086:Existentialism; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing*