Understanding the experience of caregivers: a focus on transitions.
OBJECTIVE
To review the current knowledge on the challenges and benefits of informal family caregiving; and propose two conceptual frameworks for studying transitions common to patients with cancer and their family caregivers through the trajectory of the disease process leading to better, more focused, individualized interventions;


METHODS
A review of current and classic literature on patients with cancer and their caregivers.


CONCLUSIONS
Caregivers often take on burdens that they are not prepared for. As they become overwhelmed with the work, they often neglect themselves, leading to physical and emotional illnesses. Not all caregivers perceive the same amount of burden. Careful assessment of each caregiver/cared-for dyad to individualize their support is critical to supporting them along the journey of a cancer diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Operationalizing conceptual frameworks can accelerate nurses' understanding of patient and caregiver transitions, leading to more focused interventions and allocation of resources to assist them in these transitions.
Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA. blum@son.umaryland.edu
Kay
K
Blum
Deborah W
DW
Sherman
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States