title: The Stress of Sadness: The Most Stressful Symptoms for Hospice Family Caregivers.
abstract: A family member or friend is often a hospice patient's primary caregiver and, as such, may face a significant number of stressors, including challenges related to managing patient symptoms. This study investigated the most stressful patient symptoms as reported by 111 hospice family caregivers of cancer (n=66) and cardiopulmonary (n=45) patients. Researchers calculated the mean level of stress caregivers attributed to 32 different patient symptoms commonly encountered at end of life. They found the symptoms perceived as most stressful for caregivers were psychological in nature. Study findings suggest that members of the hospice interdisciplinary team should connect patients and their caregivers to various types of support to address psychological symptoms, benefitting patients and caregivers alike.
authors: School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors: Kristy L
authors: KL
authors: Ratkowski
authors: School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA washingtonkar@health.missouri.edu.
authors: Karla T
authors: KT
authors: Washington
authors: School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors: Kevin W
authors: KW
authors: Craig
authors: School of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Albright
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: cancer; cardiopulmonary; caregiver; end-of-life care; family; hospice; stress; symptom