Part 2: Home-based family caregiving at the end of life: a comprehensive review of published qualitative research (1998-2008).
Family caregivers are crucial for supporting home death. We reviewed published qualitative research on home-based family caregiving at end of life (1998-2008), synthesizing key findings and identifying gaps where additional research is needed. Multiple databases were searched and abstracts reviewed for a focus on family caregiving and palliative care; full articles were reviewed to extract data for this review. In total, 105 articles were included. Findings are presented in the following areas: the caregiving experience and contextual features; supporting family caregivers at end of life; caregiving roles and decision-making; and rewards, meaning and coping. We noted a lack of definitional clarity; a reliance on interview methods and descriptive, thematic analyses, and a relative lack of diversity of patient conditions. Research needs are identified in several areas, including the bereavement experience, caregiver ambivalence, access to services, caregiver meaning-making, and relational and contextual influences on family caregiving at end of life.
Funk
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L
Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. lmfunk@uvic.ca
Stajduhar
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Toye
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Aoun
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Grande
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Todd
Cj
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D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001601:Bereavement; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013727:Terminal Care; D019452:Terminally Ill