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Factors of preparedness for loss from cancer among Taiwanese family caregivers.

Fur-Hsing WenMing-Mo HouPo-Jung SuWen-Chi ShenWen-Chi ChouJen-Shi ChenWen-Cheng ChangSiew Tzuh Tang
Published in: Death studies (2024)
This cohort study investigated factors associated with 336 Taiwanese family caregivers' emotional and cognitive preparedness for death of a loved one with terminal cancer. Caregivers' death-preparedness states (no-death-preparedness [as reference], cognitive-death-preparedness-only, emotional-death-preparedness-only, and sufficient-death-preparedness states) were previously identified. Associations of factors with these states were determined by a hierarchical generalized linear model. Financial hardship decreased caregivers' likelihood for the emotional-death-preparedness-only and sufficient-death-preparedness states. Physician prognostic disclosure increased membership in the cognitive-death-preparedness-only and sufficient-death-preparedness states. The better the quality of the patient-caregiver relationship, the higher the odds for the emotional-death-preparedness-only and sufficient-death-preparedness states, whereas the greater the tendency for caregivers to communicate end-of-life issues with their loved one, the lower the odds for emotional-death-preparedness-only state membership. Stronger coping capacity increased membership in the emotional-death-preparedness-only state, but perceived social support was not associated with state membership. Providing effective interventions tailored to at-risk family caregivers' specific needs may facilitate their death preparedness.
Keyphrases
  • public health
  • social support
  • depressive symptoms
  • primary care
  • emergency department
  • physical activity
  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • high resolution