Challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life: results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providers
Abstract Background Family caregivers (FCGs) of patients at the end of life (EoL) cared for at home receive support from professional and non-professional care providers. Healthcare providers in general practice play an important role as they coordinate care and establish contacts between the partie...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-018-0816-4 |
| _version_ | 1811318913964703744 |
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| author | Katja Krug René Alexander Ballhausen Regine Bölter Peter Engeser Michel Wensing Joachim Szecsenyi Frank Peters-Klimm |
| author_facet | Katja Krug René Alexander Ballhausen Regine Bölter Peter Engeser Michel Wensing Joachim Szecsenyi Frank Peters-Klimm |
| author_sort | Katja Krug |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Family caregivers (FCGs) of patients at the end of life (EoL) cared for at home receive support from professional and non-professional care providers. Healthcare providers in general practice play an important role as they coordinate care and establish contacts between the parties concerned. To identify potential intervention targets, this study deals with the challenges healthcare providers in general practice face in EoL care situations including patients, caregivers and networks. Methods Focus group discussions with general practice teams in Germany were conducted to identify barriers to and enablers of an optimal support for family caregivers. Focus group discussions were analysed using content analysis. Results Nineteen providers from 11 general practices took part in 4 focus group discussions. Participants identified challenges in communication with patients, caregivers and within the professional network. Communication with patients and caregivers focused on non-verbal messages, communicating at an appropriate time and perceiving patient and caregiver as a unit of care. Practice teams perceive themselves as an important part of the healthcare network, but also report difficulties in communication and cooperation with other healthcare providers. Conclusion Healthcare providers in general practice identified relational challenges in daily primary palliative care with potential implications for EoL care. Communication and collaboration with patients, caregivers and among healthcare providers give opportunities for improving palliative care with a focus on the patient-caregiver dyad. It is insufficient to demand a (professional) support network; existing structures need to be recognized and included into the care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:33:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54c6f11cdfc84dce8dd7c2e4bb7d80ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:33:31Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-54c6f11cdfc84dce8dd7c2e4bb7d80ed2022-12-22T02:46:44ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962018-07-011911910.1186/s12875-018-0816-4Challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life: results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providersKatja Krug0René Alexander Ballhausen1Regine Bölter2Peter Engeser3Michel Wensing4Joachim Szecsenyi5Frank Peters-Klimm6Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital HeidelbergDepartment of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital HeidelbergDepartment of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital HeidelbergDepartment of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital HeidelbergDepartment of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital HeidelbergDepartment of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital HeidelbergDepartment of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital HeidelbergAbstract Background Family caregivers (FCGs) of patients at the end of life (EoL) cared for at home receive support from professional and non-professional care providers. Healthcare providers in general practice play an important role as they coordinate care and establish contacts between the parties concerned. To identify potential intervention targets, this study deals with the challenges healthcare providers in general practice face in EoL care situations including patients, caregivers and networks. Methods Focus group discussions with general practice teams in Germany were conducted to identify barriers to and enablers of an optimal support for family caregivers. Focus group discussions were analysed using content analysis. Results Nineteen providers from 11 general practices took part in 4 focus group discussions. Participants identified challenges in communication with patients, caregivers and within the professional network. Communication with patients and caregivers focused on non-verbal messages, communicating at an appropriate time and perceiving patient and caregiver as a unit of care. Practice teams perceive themselves as an important part of the healthcare network, but also report difficulties in communication and cooperation with other healthcare providers. Conclusion Healthcare providers in general practice identified relational challenges in daily primary palliative care with potential implications for EoL care. Communication and collaboration with patients, caregivers and among healthcare providers give opportunities for improving palliative care with a focus on the patient-caregiver dyad. It is insufficient to demand a (professional) support network; existing structures need to be recognized and included into the care.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-018-0816-4Family caregiversFocus group discussionsPrimary careHealthcare provider in general practiceEnd-of-life carePalliative care |
| spellingShingle | Katja Krug René Alexander Ballhausen Regine Bölter Peter Engeser Michel Wensing Joachim Szecsenyi Frank Peters-Klimm Challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life: results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providers BMC Family Practice Family caregivers Focus group discussions Primary care Healthcare provider in general practice End-of-life care Palliative care |
| title | Challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life: results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providers |
| title_full | Challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life: results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providers |
| title_fullStr | Challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life: results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life: results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providers |
| title_short | Challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life: results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providers |
| title_sort | challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providers |
| topic | Family caregivers Focus group discussions Primary care Healthcare provider in general practice End-of-life care Palliative care |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-018-0816-4 |
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