TY - JOUR
T1 - Commitment to care
T2 - A grounded theory of informal hospice caregivers' development as symptom managers
AU - Washington, Karla
N1 - Funding Information:
Research forming the basis of this article was funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation Doctoral Fellows Program, a component of the Geriatric Social Work Initiative.
PY - 2013/5
Y1 - 2013/5
N2 - Individuals receiving home-based hospice services often rely upon family members and friends to serve as informal caregivers responsible for managing the full range of emotional, psychological, spiritual, and physical symptoms. The purpose of this in-depth, grounded theory study was to develop a theoretical model of the processes by which informal hospice caregivers, who often lack formal training, acquire knowledge and skills related to symptom management. Findings indicate that, motivated by a commitment to care, caregivers seek competence in symptom management by learning/doing, consulting with professionals, and personalizing their caregiving approach. The ongoing nature of the development of symptom management knowledge and skills provides multiple opportunities for intervention by hospice social workers and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
AB - Individuals receiving home-based hospice services often rely upon family members and friends to serve as informal caregivers responsible for managing the full range of emotional, psychological, spiritual, and physical symptoms. The purpose of this in-depth, grounded theory study was to develop a theoretical model of the processes by which informal hospice caregivers, who often lack formal training, acquire knowledge and skills related to symptom management. Findings indicate that, motivated by a commitment to care, caregivers seek competence in symptom management by learning/doing, consulting with professionals, and personalizing their caregiving approach. The ongoing nature of the development of symptom management knowledge and skills provides multiple opportunities for intervention by hospice social workers and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
KW - Caregivers
KW - hospices
KW - palliative care
KW - qualitative research
KW - social work
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84877319705&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1473325011429047
DO - 10.1177/1473325011429047
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84877319705
SN - 1473-3250
VL - 12
SP - 358
EP - 371
JO - Qualitative Social Work
JF - Qualitative Social Work
IS - 3
ER -