Role adaptation of family caregivers for ventilator-dependent patients: transition from respiratory care ward to home.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the underlying theoretical framework for the role adaptation of family caregivers for ventilator-dependent patients after transferring from respiratory care ward to home.


BACKGROUND
The number of ventilator-dependent patients has been increasing worldwide. Under Taiwan's National Health Insurance policy, if ventilator-dependent patients are stable, they should be transferred from an acute care hospital to a subacute unit or home.


METHODS
A qualitative design based on grounded theory was adopted for this study.


METHODS
One-on-one, in-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 15 family caregivers who were caretaking ventilator-dependent patients at their home two months after hospital discharge. Theoretical sampling was used until concepts emerging in data analysis were saturated. Analysis of audio-taped interview transcripts generated a process of role adaptation for family caregivers of a ventilator-dependent patient.


RESULTS
The caregiver's transition to the care-giving role is a dynamic process with consequences that are impacted by level of support from the family, affective rewards from the patient, patient's health condition and a balanced life schedule for the caregiver.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study can provide respiratory care professionals with skills to assess the needs of caregivers for ventilator-dependent patients and individualise interventions to caregivers' specific needs.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study contribute to nurses' understanding and promotion of role adaptation for family caregivers among ventilator-dependent patients.
Huang
Tzu-Ting
TT
School of Nursing, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. thuang@mail.cgu.edu.tw
Peng
Ji-Ming
JM
D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D010360:Patient Transfer; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012139:Respiratory Therapy Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012380:Role; D013624:Taiwan