Abstract
BackgroundIncontinence is a common problem faced by family caregivers that is recognized as a major burden and predictor of institutionalization. However, few studies have evaluated the experiences of family caregivers caring for stroke survivors with incontinence.PurposeTo describe experiences of caregivers managing incontinence in stroke survivors.DesignThis qualitative descriptive study employed a grounded-theory approach.MethodsSemi-structured in-depth interviews with ten family caregivers of stroke survivors with incontinence were conducted during 2011. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis.FindingsData analysis identified four themes: chaos, hypervigilance, exhaustion, and creating a new life. There were nine related subcategories: fluster, dirtiness, urgency, fear of potential health-hazard, physically demanding and time-consuming, mentally draining, financial burden, learning by doing, and attitude adjustment. Together, these described a process of struggling to cope with the care of stroke survivors with urinary/fecal incontinence. Of the four categories, “creating a new life” developed gradually over time to orient caregivers to their new life, while the other three categories occurred in a chronological order.ConclusionThe research highlighted unique caring experiences of family caregivers of stroke patients, which focused solely on the ‘incontinence issue’. Understanding these experiences may help nurses provide better support and resources for family caregivers when caring for stroke survivors with incontinence.
Highlights
Stroke is a disabling illness that is prevalent in both developed and developing countries [1]
There were nine related subcategories: fluster, dirtiness, urgency, fear of potential health-hazard, physically demanding and time-consuming, mentally draining, financial burden, learning by doing, and attitude adjustment. These described a process of struggling to cope with the care of stroke survivors with urinary/fecal incontinence
The research highlighted unique caring experiences of family caregivers of stroke patients, which focused solely on the ‘incontinence issue’. Understanding these experiences may help nurses provide better support and resources for family caregivers when caring for stroke survivors with incontinence
Summary
Stroke is a disabling illness that is prevalent in both developed and developing countries [1]. In Taiwan, stroke is the third leading cause of mortality [2]. This is a serious neurological event primarily affecting older people, and its consequences include mobility problems, cognitive impairment, urinary/fecal incontinence, speech and communication difficulties, and personality changes that often require lifelong assistance [3,4]. A large proportion of stroke survivors are dependent on family caregivers who must assume multiple responsibilities, and this can lead to frustration, with those tasks that are most time-consuming, such as managing incontinence [5]. Few studies have evaluated the experiences of family caregivers caring for stroke survivors with incontinence. To describe experiences of caregivers managing incontinence in stroke survivors
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