Daughters of Cardiac Patients: The Process of Caregiving

Abstract

This prospective, exploratory study examined the caregiving role that adult daughters play when a parent is hospitalized for a cardiac condition. Specifically, the study addressed the development and evolution of the caregiving role during the hospital stay and in the post-discharge period. Data were collected from 9 daughters using participant observation and unstructured and semi-structured interviews. Daughters' caregiving was characterized by a non-linear process of "knowing" that included knowledge seeking, consolidation of knowledge, and acting on the knowledge. In a secondary process of self-assessment concerning their knowledge, the participants moved back and forth among the 3 dimensions. In addition, their level of involvement was defined by 4 different caregiving styles, based on the family's caregiving culture. Nurses might collaborate more effectively with women caring for a parent by determining their position in the "knowing" process and tailoring the intervention accordingly. Nurses should also be sensitive to families' opinions and traditions regarding caregiving.