A Qualitative Study of Family Caregiver Experiences of Managing Incontinence in XXXX Survivors.

@entity1 @entity64 @entity322
BACKGROUND: Incontinence is a common problem faced by family caregivers that is recognized as a major burden and predictor of institutionalization. However, few studies have evaluated the experiences of family caregivers caring for @entity64 survivors with @entity322 . PURPOSE: To describe experiences of caregivers managing @entity322 in @entity64 survivors. DESIGN: This qualitative descriptive study employed a grounded-theory approach. METHODS: Semi-structured in-depth interviews with ten family caregivers of @entity64 survivors with @entity322 were conducted during 2011. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. FINDINGS: Data analysis identified four themes: chaos, hypervigilance, exhaustion, and creating a new life. There were nine related subcategories: fluster, dirtiness, urgency, fear of potential health-hazard, physically demanding and time-consuming, mentally draining, financial burden, learning by doing, and attitude adjustment. Together, these described a process of struggling to cope with the care of @entity64 survivors with urinary/fecal @entity322 . Of the four categories, "creating a new life" developed gradually over time to orient caregivers to their new life, while the other three categories occurred in a chronological order. CONCLUSION: The research highlighted unique caring experiences of family caregivers of @entity64 @entity1 , which focused solely on the ' @entity322 issue'. Understanding these experiences may help nurses provide better support and resources for family caregivers when caring for @entity64 survivors with @entity322 .
