Understanding the experiences of spousal caregiving for survivors of a stroke : a phenomenological study

Coombs, Ursula Eileen (2003) Understanding the experiences of spousal caregiving for survivors of a stroke : a phenomenological study. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Caregiving has multidimensional effects on the lives of spousal caregivers that in turn have an impact upon the care they provide to the individuals who have survived a stroke. It is important to examine the experiences of spousal caregivers from their perspective. This is a phenomenological study on the experiences of spousal caregivers for survivors of a stroke. Eight spouses (five females, three males) participated in the study. van Manen's (1997) approach was used to examine the spousal caregivers' experiences. Data were collected through audio-taped unstructured interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim to form textual descriptions of the caregivers' experience with caregiving. From data analysis six themes were explicated which together form the essence of the experience of the spousal caregivers. These interrelated themes were 1) experiencing a profound sense of loss, 2) adjusting to a new relationship with your spouse, 3) taking on new responsibilities, 4) feeling the demands of caregiving, 5) having to depend on the support of others, and 6) maintaining hope and optimism. This study contributes to health care providers' understanding and knowledge of spousal caregivers for survivors of a stroke and supports the need for continued research in this area.

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