ObjectivesInformal caregivers of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience a heavy caregiver burden, but few studies have explored what support they need. The aim of this study was to describe perceptions of healthcare support to informal caregivers, both from the family caregiver’s and the staff’s perspective.DesignA qualitative interview study involving semi-structured interviews and analysed with content analysis.ParticipantsIn total, 54 participated: 36 informal caregivers of patients with severe (stage 3–4) COPD and 17 healthcare staff.ResultsTwo main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Ambiguity impedes provision of support. Both caregivers and staff experienced ambiguity. The informal caregivers needed emotional, practical and informational support but talked about unclear expectations, while the staff described an uncertainty about their duties regarding the families. There were no routines to unburden the families. Moreover, language and cultural barriers hampered their efforts. (2) Knowledgeable and perceptive communication is key to support. Both caregivers and staff described positive experiences of dialogue. The dialogue may facilitate means to caregiver support and was a support in itself.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that strategies and routines for caregiver support, including communication skills among the staff, should be developed, to move toward the family perspective advocated in palliative- and nursing family care.
ObjectivesTo explore adolescents’ experiences of being diagnosed with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).DesignQualitative interview study, using a phenomenological framework and analysis.SettingThe children’s clinic of a specialised out-care hospital located in a multicultural area of a Swedish city.Participants13 adolescents, 7 boys and 6 girls between 14 and 19 years old, who had been diagnosed with ADHD.ResultsThe participants’ experience of being diagnosed with ADHD was interpreted as a process of understanding oneself asbeing different, for better or worse, like many others. The participants sought acceptance and a sense of normality, while developing an understanding of both the positive and the negative sides of their ADHD traits. These two sides of a coin were inter-related parts of themselves and were shared by many others, which increased their acceptance. Three themes described phases of the process:struggling with vulnerability,responding to a labelandmanoeuvring social life.ConclusionThe results add to previous research, illuminating that the adolescents tried to make sense of both the uniqueness and the vulnerability of the ADHD diagnosis. The findings can be useful for healthcare professionals, in reflecting on the complexity of ADHD and on the adolescents’ expectations.
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