Sources of stress for hospice caregiving families

The purpose of this qualitative study was to generate a detailed description of the concerns and stresses families encountered as they cared for their dying relative in an oncology hospice home care program. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation were used to follow 14 family members from 10 different families throughout their caregiving experiences. The constant comparative method of data analysis was used to discover emergent themes. Families identified three general sources of stress; patient symptoms, interactions with others, and concerns for self. Findings were examined from within the larger body of caregiving literature. Changes in their relatives' mental status seemed most stressful over time, and is an area that may benefit from increased support from health professionals.