Psychosocial influences on total pain management by informal hospice caregivers

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Individuals receiving home-based hospice services often rely upon family members and friends to serve as informal caregivers responsible for managing emotional, psychological, spiritual, and physical pain. The purpose of this in-depth, grounded theory study was to generate a model describing how psychosocial factors influence informal hospice caregivers' management of pain. Findings revealed that caregivers' pain management strategies are influenced by the history of the caregiver-patient relationship, caregivers' occupational and personal health histories, previous caregiving experiences, caregivers' individual personalities, support from others, and competing demands. Findings support the inclusion of informal caregivers in thorough psychosocial assessments conducted by hospice social workers in an effort to maximize the potential for effective pain and symptom management.