Death representation of caregivers in hospice

Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2012 Nov;29(7):531-5. doi: 10.1177/1049909111432623. Epub 2012 Jan 12.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated caregiver's death representation in hospice. The results presented here are a further analysis of the data collected in our previous study, concerning the evaluation of the caregiver in hospice. The data analysis of 24 caregivers of patients hospitalized in Rimini Hospice (Italy) underlined that caregivers avoiding death representation of the patient admitted to hospice had fewer protective factors (52.3%) and more risk factors (47.7%) than caregivers nonavoiding (66.5% and 33.5%, respectively). Caregivers avoiding death representation, moreover, experienced a greater distress (58%) than those nonavoiding (42%).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Death*
  • Awareness
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Female
  • Hospices*
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Support