Longitudinal analysis of cancer family caregiver perception of sleep difficulty during home hospice
Longitudinal analysis of cancer family caregiver perception of sleep difficulty during home hospice
Our findings indicate that family caregivers who cohabitate exhibit increased perception of sleep difficulty over the course of hospice. Future studies and interventions for hospice family caregivers' sleep should consider cohabitation between the patient and the caregiver as a significant predictor of sleep difficulty to observe and potentially mediate the negative outcomes associated with caregiver sleep difficulty. Further, determining the underlying reasons for sleep difficulty in cohabitation (e.g., patient symptoms or treatments) should be explored.
Editor's Note: What evening, weekend, and holiday support do you provide for your hospice patients' family caregivers? To what extent can they trust your organization to be responsive to the patients' needs during non-business hours? Does your interdisciplinary team assess this stress, provide supportive family education, and suggest appropriate interventions?