Qualitative research on pressure source of caregivers in need of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Objective To investigate the pressure sources of caregivers in need of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and to provide evidence for targeted intervention. Methods According to Hill's ABC-X family pressure model, 12 main family caregivers were received semi-structured in depth interviews with phenomenological methods. Results Pressure sources of caregivers for HSCT patients were summed up to 7 aspects: search of donor, isolation with patient during transplantation, lack of knowledge in patient care, family resource difficulties, family economic overburden, social role transformation and uncertainty of disease prognosis. Conclusions The pressure sources of caregivers for HSCT patients is a persistent process, which is over layed as the patient's condition worsens. The analysis on the pressure sources of primary family caregivers is becoming a new topic in HSCT nursing area. Key words: Qualitative research; Caregivers; Pressure sources; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation