Abstract
BackgroundFew studies have focused on patients' emotional distress with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their main family caregivers.MethodsCross-sectional data about emotional, functional, and burden-related variables were collected from 85 patients with end-stage COPD and their 85 respective main family caregivers to determine the variables that could predict their emotional well-being. Descriptive analyses, comparison of means, hierarchical regression models, and comparative quali-quantitative analyses were carried out.ResultsData show that the great majority of patients with COPD spend years with this diagnosis, and have been admitted to the hospital several times in advance stage of illness the previous year of the moment of end-of-life stage. Furthermore, only a tiny percentage of the patients were functionally independent in the advanced stage of illness.ConclusionsThe emotional distress and the burden of the family caregiver play an essential role in the distress of the patient, in conjunction with the patient's own functional independence and the time living with the disease, and comorbidity. On the other hand, variables of the patient, such as time since diagnosis, number of hospital admissions, comorbidity, functional dependence, and emotional distress, play an important role in the family caregiver's emotional distress and burden. Understanding how these variables are related is key to designing appropriate programs to reduce the emotional distress the patients with COPD at the end of life and their family caregivers.
Highlights
End-of-life care poses a series of medical, emotional, social, and spiritual challenges [1] to the patient and their family [2]
The emotional distress and the burden of the family caregiver play an essential role in the distress of the patient, in conjunction with the patient’s own functional independence and the time living with the disease, and comorbidity
Variables of the patient, such as time since diagnosis, number of hospital admissions, comorbidity, functional dependence, and emotional distress, play an important role in the family caregiver’s emotional distress and burden. Understanding how these variables are related is key to designing appropriate programs to reduce the emotional distress the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the end of life and their family caregivers
Summary
End-of-life care poses a series of medical, emotional, social, and spiritual challenges [1] to the patient and their family [2]. Members may be continually worried about the patient’s health [3]. The reality of providing care may place a heavy burden on the family [2, 4]. The main family caregivers’ dedication tends to go beyond the actual time spent providing care, being permanently “on-call" for any patient’s needs. The consequent loss of control over their time is a significant factor in the caregivers’ perception of their burden [4, 6]. Few studies have focused on patients’ emotional distress with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their main family caregivers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
