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Biomedical subjects

M J Krant

Publications and source records attributed to M J Krant.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Family members' perceptions of communications in late stage cancer.

A study of patterns of communications in families with a terminal cancer patient being treated at three urban institutions revealed that may first-order relatives (spouses, children, siblings) of patients did not have a communication link to the physician, especially if direct communication was not established at the time of diagnosis. Family members were frequently critical of the way information was communicated, yet relied upon the physician's interpretation of the patient's status to form their own opinion of the patient's future. Intra-familial communications regarding illness and dying were frequently discordance and guarded, leading to preceptions that the patient was withdrawing, and fostering a reliance upon the hospital for terminal care. More than half of the family members were uncomfortable visiting the patient in the hospital, experiencing feelings of helplessness, or sensing helplessness in the patients. Bearing the patient's pain was seen as particularly difficult.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of hospice care on families.

The impact of a hospital-based Hospice service for late-stage cancer patients, on the families of fifty-eight bereaved spouses was studied, retrospectively. Hospice care in general was rated significantly higher when compared to the prior care (p less than .001) received by patients and families. Hospice care contributed to improved family functioning and well-being, with the vast majority of spouses reporting feelings of increased support, improved coping by all family members and increased closeness, when compared to prior care. Consequently, over three-quarters of the families reported being emotionally prepared, and prepared in a practical sense, for the death of their loved one. Families appear to be coping reasonably well during bereavement especially those who reported feeling emotionally prepared for the death. Health problems were reported as a large problem in 15 percent of the respondents, which compares favorably to previously documented research on bereavement and illness. These findings indicate that a Hospice mode of care, with its support of families during terminal and bereavement stages, impacts significantly on families' abilities to cope with the terminal phase and adapt afterwards.

Adaptation, Psychological↗