Are bereaved family members a valid proxy for a patient's assessment of dying?

Translation and Testing of the Italian Version of FAMCARE-2: Measuring Family Caregivers’ Satisfaction With Palliative Care

“…In accordance with other research, caregivers in our study were very satisfied with PCU care (Higginson, Priest, & McCarthy, 1994; Jarvis, Burge, & Scott, 1995; Kristjanson, 1993). Some authors pointed out that certain factors may affect the scores of satisfaction measures.…”

“…The relationships of caregivers’ and patients’ characteristics with scores of FAMCARE-2 scale in this study are similar to the findings obtained from other studies, in particular, the patients’ age (caregivers of elderly record greater satisfaction levels than those of younger; Chapman & Pepler, 1998; Medigovich, Porock, Janson, & Smith, 1999), the caregivers’ gender (women are more satisfied than men; Higginson et al, 1994; Medigovich et al, 1999), and the education level (the less the education, the more the satisfaction; Chapman & Pepler, 1998; Medigovich et al, 1999). The latter may contribute to better explain why the lowest score was obtained on the information items.…”

Translation and Testing of the Italian Version of FAMCARE-2: Measuring Family Caregivers’ Satisfaction With Palliative Care

“…In accordance with other research, caregivers in our study were very satisfied with PCU care (Higginson, Priest, & McCarthy, 1994; Jarvis, Burge, & Scott, 1995; Kristjanson, 1993). Some authors pointed out that certain factors may affect the scores of satisfaction measures.…”

“…The relationships of caregivers’ and patients’ characteristics with scores of FAMCARE-2 scale in this study are similar to the findings obtained from other studies, in particular, the patients’ age (caregivers of elderly record greater satisfaction levels than those of younger; Chapman & Pepler, 1998; Medigovich, Porock, Janson, & Smith, 1999), the caregivers’ gender (women are more satisfied than men; Higginson et al, 1994; Medigovich et al, 1999), and the education level (the less the education, the more the satisfaction; Chapman & Pepler, 1998; Medigovich et al, 1999). The latter may contribute to better explain why the lowest score was obtained on the information items.…”

Symptom Distress in Advanced Chronic Organ Failure: Disagreement among Patients and Family Caregivers

“…Moreover, for the most important symptoms (dyspnea, fatigue, and muscle weakness) a clinically relevant difference existed between the majority of patients' and family caregivers' ratings. Again, this disagreement is in line with previous findings in cancer patients 20,21 and shows the complexity of proxy reporting. Information from family caregivers is indirect and the perception of family caregivers may be affected by their own needs and problems.…”

Predictors of bereavement outcome for family carers of cancer patients

“…Approximately 4% refused to participate and in 25% of cases the patient died prior to the initial interview being conducted. The response rate of patients (37.4%) was affected by their level of illness and is consistent with the results of other studies of terminally ill populations (Chochinov et al, 1994;Higginson et al, 1994). Approximately 10% of patients with moderate to severe level cognitive impairment, as determined by a Mini Mental State Examination score below 17, were excluded (Folstein et al, 1975;Brodarty and Gresham, 1989).…”

Translation and Testing of the Italian Version of FAMCARE-2: Measuring Family Caregivers’ Satisfaction With Palliative Care

“…In accordance with other research, caregivers in our study were very satisfied with PCU care (Higginson, Priest, & McCarthy, 1994; Jarvis, Burge, & Scott, 1995; Kristjanson, 1993). Some authors pointed out that certain factors may affect the scores of satisfaction measures.…”

“…The relationships of caregivers’ and patients’ characteristics with scores of FAMCARE-2 scale in this study are similar to the findings obtained from other studies, in particular, the patients’ age (caregivers of elderly record greater satisfaction levels than those of younger; Chapman & Pepler, 1998; Medigovich, Porock, Janson, & Smith, 1999), the caregivers’ gender (women are more satisfied than men; Higginson et al, 1994; Medigovich et al, 1999), and the education level (the less the education, the more the satisfaction; Chapman & Pepler, 1998; Medigovich et al, 1999). The latter may contribute to better explain why the lowest score was obtained on the information items.…”

Symptom Distress in Advanced Chronic Organ Failure: Disagreement among Patients and Family Caregivers

“…Moreover, for the most important symptoms (dyspnea, fatigue, and muscle weakness) a clinically relevant difference existed between the majority of patients' and family caregivers' ratings. Again, this disagreement is in line with previous findings in cancer patients 20,21 and shows the complexity of proxy reporting. Information from family caregivers is indirect and the perception of family caregivers may be affected by their own needs and problems.…”

Predictors of bereavement outcome for family carers of cancer patients

“…Approximately 4% refused to participate and in 25% of cases the patient died prior to the initial interview being conducted. The response rate of patients (37.4%) was affected by their level of illness and is consistent with the results of other studies of terminally ill populations (Chochinov et al, 1994;Higginson et al, 1994). Approximately 10% of patients with moderate to severe level cognitive impairment, as determined by a Mini Mental State Examination score below 17, were excluded (Folstein et al, 1975;Brodarty and Gresham, 1989).…”

Translation and Testing of the Italian Version of FAMCARE-2: Measuring Family Caregivers’ Satisfaction With Palliative Care

“…In accordance with other research, caregivers in our study were very satisfied with PCU care (Higginson, Priest, & McCarthy, 1994; Jarvis, Burge, & Scott, 1995; Kristjanson, 1993). Some authors pointed out that certain factors may affect the scores of satisfaction measures.…”

“…The relationships of caregivers’ and patients’ characteristics with scores of FAMCARE-2 scale in this study are similar to the findings obtained from other studies, in particular, the patients’ age (caregivers of elderly record greater satisfaction levels than those of younger; Chapman & Pepler, 1998; Medigovich, Porock, Janson, & Smith, 1999), the caregivers’ gender (women are more satisfied than men; Higginson et al, 1994; Medigovich et al, 1999), and the education level (the less the education, the more the satisfaction; Chapman & Pepler, 1998; Medigovich et al, 1999). The latter may contribute to better explain why the lowest score was obtained on the information items.…”

Symptom Distress in Advanced Chronic Organ Failure: Disagreement among Patients and Family Caregivers

“…Moreover, for the most important symptoms (dyspnea, fatigue, and muscle weakness) a clinically relevant difference existed between the majority of patients' and family caregivers' ratings. Again, this disagreement is in line with previous findings in cancer patients 20,21 and shows the complexity of proxy reporting. Information from family caregivers is indirect and the perception of family caregivers may be affected by their own needs and problems.…”

Predictors of bereavement outcome for family carers of cancer patients

“…Approximately 4% refused to participate and in 25% of cases the patient died prior to the initial interview being conducted. The response rate of patients (37.4%) was affected by their level of illness and is consistent with the results of other studies of terminally ill populations (Chochinov et al, 1994;Higginson et al, 1994). Approximately 10% of patients with moderate to severe level cognitive impairment, as determined by a Mini Mental State Examination score below 17, were excluded (Folstein et al, 1975;Brodarty and Gresham, 1989).…”