title: Lack of communication and control: experiences of distance caregivers of parents with advanced cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the new and complex phenomenon of distance caregiving in the advanced cancer population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative.
  
  
  METHODS
  A large comprehensive cancer center in the midwestern region of the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  14 distance caregivers of parents with advanced cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with advanced lung, gastrointestinal, and gynecologic malignancies consented to have their distance caregiving adult children contacted to participate in the study. Responses to three open-ended questions guided the tape-recorded telephone interviews with the distance caregivers. Following transcription, content analysis with inductive coding was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two major themes, communication and control, and five subthemes, benefits and burdens of distance caregiving, dealing with uncertainty, direct action through information seeking, protecting, and staying connected, emerged from the data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distance caregivers experience some of the same stressors that local caregivers of patients with cancer experience. In addition, they have unique psychosocial needs related to the burden of geographic distance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distance caregivers could benefit from nursing interventions targeted at their unique needs. Innovative interventions using Web-based computer technology for improved communication, as well as supportive care interventions, may be helpful.
authors.affiliation: Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. pmm@case.edu
authors.forename: Polly
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazanec
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Betty Rolling
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.forename: Maryjo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prince-Paul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult