Multiple Victims: The Result of Caring Patients in Vegetative State.
BACKGROUND
Having a patient in a vegetative state in the family is a complicated and stressful experience. Caring for such patients with complete disability at home is very challenging.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to explore the outcomes of caring for patients in a vegetative state for families and caregivers at home.


METHODS
In this qualitative study, 16 vegetative patients' caregivers were selected through purposive sampling. Unstructured interviews and observations were used for data gathering. Data collection was continued until saturation of data and emergence of the main themes. Data analysis was performed by the content analysis method.


RESULTS
The analysis of the gathered data led to three themes: "lost main caregiver", "affected caring partner" and "affected family". Each theme had some subthemes and subcategories.


CONCLUSIONS
The three emerged themes in this study showed that all the family members of vegetative patients, depending on their responsibilities, were affected by physical, mental, social and economic issues.
Department of Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Fateme
F
Goudarzi
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, IR Iran.
Heidarali
H
Abedi
Department of Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Kourosh
K
Zarea
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
Fazlollah
F
Ahmadi
Caregivers; Nursing; Persistent Vegetative State (PVS); Vegetative State