Malgorzata Fopka-Kowalczyk
Hospice Światło, Torun
Poland
malgorzata.j.kowalczyk@gmail.com
Self-care of family members in palliative care
Background
My research project deals with family carers who look after loved ones at the end of their lives. Mass media, the authors of books and articles, health care professionals and scientists are mostly focused on the terminal patients themselves. There is little concern about the difficulties faced by family carers, their needs and problems experienced during care: emotional, psychological but also physical with their health and well-being. I would like to emphasize that they need special care and support because they have to constantly deal with suffering, dying and death. I would like also understand the perspective and situation of family members in palliative care.
The topic of this project is based on Stanislaw Kowalik’s theoretical analysis of self-care concerning people in difficult situations in their own life.
Objectives
The purpose of this study is to analyse and describe family members’ needs while caring and to create a training course for family members who look after relatives with cancer.
Methods
In my project I decided to use descriptive study and I’m going to use quantitative methods. In this research the method of face to face interview will be applied. The interview shall be focused on self-care, but also needs, emotional and physical problems and family members expectations addressed to hospice staff. After interviews, based on my research I’m going to create a training curriculum. Afterwards, I would like to provide a support programme for family carers in palliative care in Kuyavian – Pomerania. It will be conducted with 10 family members, who look after beloved ones in palliative care department in Kuyavian- Pomerania’s hospices. The inclusion criteria: people who have been caring for a family member with cancer for a long time.
Expected Results/Conclusions
Work in progress. After research and training course the family carers will have better quality of life and better self-care while caring for their relative.