Bachner Yaacov G, Carmel Sara
Department of Sociology of Health, The Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Health Commun. 2009 Sep;24(6):524-31. doi: 10.1080/10410230903104913.
This study assesses caregivers' perceived level of open communication about illness and death with their terminally ill relatives and examines the contribution of caregivers' characteristics and situational variables to the explanation of open communication. A total of 236 primary caregivers of terminal cancer patients participated in the study. Level of open communication was measured by 6 items clustered into 1 factor. Caregivers' characteristics were composed of demographic variables, personality traits, and negative emotional reactions to caregiving. The situational variables included the duration and intensity of caregiving, and perceived functioning and suffering of the patient. Caregivers experienced substantial difficulties in communicating with patients about illness and death. Level of open communication was explained by caregivers' emotional reactions (emotional exhaustion, depression) and self-efficacy, as well as by the duration of caregiving. Intervention programs for health professionals need to focus on prevention, identification, and treatment of caregivers at risk for negative reactions to caregiving.
本研究评估了照顾者与身患绝症的亲属就疾病和死亡进行公开沟通的感知水平，并考察了照顾者的特征和情境变量对公开沟通解释的贡献。共有236名晚期癌症患者的主要照顾者参与了该研究。公开沟通水平通过6个项目进行测量，这些项目归为1个因子。照顾者的特征包括人口统计学变量、人格特质以及对照顾的负面情绪反应。情境变量包括照顾的持续时间和强度，以及对患者功能和痛苦的感知。照顾者在与患者就疾病和死亡进行沟通时遇到了很大困难。公开沟通水平可由照顾者的情绪反应（情感耗竭、抑郁）和自我效能感，以及照顾的持续时间来解释。针对健康专业人员的干预项目需要关注对有照顾负面反应风险的照顾者的预防、识别和治疗。
