Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care

Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (한국호스피스완화의료학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The Effects of Counseling about Death and Dying on Perceptions, Preparedness, and Anxiety Regarding Death among Family Caregivers Caring for Hospice Patients: A Pilot Study

  • Jung, Yeojung (Department of Nursing, Jeonbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Yeom, Hyun-E (Department of Nursing, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Lee, Na-Ri (Department of Hema-oncology, Jeonbuk National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2020.10.07
  • Accepted : 2020.12.30
  • Published : 2021.03.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to examine the influence of death counseling on perceptions, preparedness, and anxiety regarding death and dying among family caregivers of hospice patients. Methods: Death counseling developed based on the SPIKES model was provided to 37 family caregivers in a hospice and palliative care unit. Perceptions, preparedness, and anxiety regarding death were assessed with a self-administered structured questionnaire, and participants' scores before and after counseling were compared using the paired t-test. Results: Significant changes were found in perceptions, preparedness, and anxiety regarding death after counseling. Compared to before counseling, the scores for perceptions of death (t=-4.90, P<0.001) and preparedness for death and dying (t=-16.23, P<0.001) improved, while anxiety (t=3.72, P=0.001) decreased after counseling. Some changes were also found in the types of support that family caregivers needed to prepare for the death of their family members in the hospice care unit. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that death counseling could help family caregivers prepare for the death of their loved ones. Hospice and palliative care providers should play a key role in supporting family caregivers of hospice patients by developing strategies for counseling.

Keywords

References

  1. National Cancer Center; National Hospice Center [Internet]. Current situation and statistics. [cited 2020 Jun 1] Available from: https://hospice.cancer.go.kr/pain/stat.do?menu_no=634&brd_mgrno=.
  2. Ferrell B, Coyle N, Paice JA. Oxford textbook of palliative nursing. New York:Oxford University Press;2015. p.109.
  3. National Hospice Center. Evaluation results of the bereavement family satisfaction survey in 2018, 2019.
  4. Lee JH. Unmet needs and caregiver burden among the family caregivers of hospice patients [master's thesis]. Seoul: Ewha Womans Univ.; 2016. Korean.
  5. Park B, Kim SY, Shin JY, Sanson-Fisher RW, Shin DW, Cho J, et al. Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in anxious or depressed family caregivers of patients with cancer: a nationwide survey in Korea. PLoS One 2013;8:e60230. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060230
  6. Lee JY, Rhee KO. A study on older adult's recognition of the death. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society 2004;24:193-215.
  7. Choi YS, Kim DS. Concepts associated with death, fear and fear overcoming methods held by patients with cancer in terminal stage and their families in hospice [master's thesis]. Daejon: Chungnam National Univ.; 2012. Korean.
  8. Schulz R, Boerner K, Klinger J, Rosen J. Preparedness for death and adjustment to bereavement among caregivers of recently placed nursing home residents. J Palliat Care. 2015;18:127-33.
  9. Heo HJ, Kwon YC. The effect of family resilience, social support and death recognition on quality of death on the adaptation of bereavement family. Journal of Digital Convergence 2019;17:271-80.
  10. National Cancer Center; National Hospice Center [Internet]. Hospice service guide. 4th ed. Goyang: National Cancer Center; National Hospice Center; 2019. [cited 2020 Jun 1] Available from: https://hospice.cancer.go.kr/pain/archivesView.do?brd_no=92096.
  11. Jeong HS. Recognition towards good death among physicians and nurses in an area [master's thesis]. Busan: Catholic Univ.; 2010. Korean.
  12. Cho YH. Attitude of hospice patient's family to ward death and hospice [master's thesis]. Daegu: Kyungpook National Univ.; 2009. Korean.
  13. Korean Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association. Hospice palliative nursing. Seoul:Hyunmoon;2015.
  14. Kaplan M. SPIKES: a framework for breaking bad news to patients with cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2010;14:514-6. https://doi.org/10.1188/10.CJON.514-516
  15. Lau F, Maida V, Downing M, Lesperance M, Karlson N, Kuziemsky C. Use of the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) for end-of-life prognostication in a palliative medicine consultation service. J Pain Symptom Manage 2009;37:965-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.08.003
  16. Gramm J, Trachsel M, Berthold D. Psychotherapeutic work in palliative care. Verhaltenstherapie [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2020 Jun 1]. Available from: https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/505120#.
  17. Roh SY. Changes in family caregivers attitude towards hospice care after the provision of information on hospice and palliative care [master' s thesis]. Daejon: Chungnam National Univ.; 2017. Korean.
  18. Kim SY, Kim YS. The effects of listening-centered and singing-centered single-session music therapy intervention on pain, anxiety, and depression of the gynecologic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. KJMT 2010;12:1-18.
  19. Han HJ, Park AR, Kim HS, Moon HK, Park YH. The effects of laughter therapy on stress responses in patients with preoperative breast cancer. J Korean Oncol Nurs 2011;11:93-100. https://doi.org/10.5388/jkon.2011.11.2.93
  20. Parkes CM, Relf M, Couldrick A. Counselling in terminal care and bereavement. Leicester:British Psychological Society;1996.
  21. Schwartz CE, Mazor K, Rogers J, Ma Y, Reed G. Validation of a new measure of concept of a good death. J Pallative Med 2003;6:575-84. https://doi.org/10.1089/109662103768253687
  22. Spielberger CD, Gorsuch RL, Lushene RE. Manual for the state-trait anxiety inventory. Palo Alto, CA:Consulting Psychologists Press;1970.
  23. Kim JT, Shin DG. A Study Based on the Standardization of the STAI for Korea. The New Medical Journal 1978;21:69-75.
  24. Longaway D. Death education and family support. In: Forman WB. Hospice and palliative care : concepts and practice. 2nd ed. Sudbury, Mass.:Jones and Bartlett;2003. p.229-40.
  25. Choi JR. The effects of an informational support program on social support, depression, and anxiety for family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer [master's thesis]. Gyeongsan: Catholic Univ.; 2009. Korean.
  26. Lee TY. Effects of supportive education program for hospice patients' families [master's thesis]. Daegu: Keimyung Univ.; 2013. Korean.
  27. Ku SM. Perception on home care hospice and well dying among family caregivers of patients receiving home care [master's thesis]. Seoul: Hanyang Univ.; 2017. Korean.
  28. Kim MS, Ha CK, Kim HS. A study on life satisfaction, the view of the afterlife and readiness for death. KJFW 2011;16:111-36.
  29. Jeong IS. A study of factors influencing grief among the bereaved family of the hospice patients [master's thesis]. Seoul: Ewha Womans Univ.; 2008. Korean.
  30. Lee JH, Park HK, Hwang IC, Kim HM, Kim YS, Lee YJ, et al. Factor associated with care burden among family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients. Korean J Hosp Palliat Care 2016;19:61-9. https://doi.org/10.14475/kjhpc.2016.19.1.61