Masters Degrees (Psychology)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/665

Browse

Browsing Masters Degrees (Psychology) by Author "Armenis, Alexander"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Patients' role expectations of home-based caregivers
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008-03) Armenis, Alexander; De Vos, H. M.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates and describes palliative care patients’ expectations of their homebased caregivers. This paper attempts to expand on the findings of a previous study by Armenis (2006b) that reported a need to determine the occupational responsibilities of home-based caregivers within the Stellenbosch Hospice organization. Three palliative care patients were interviewed individually in unstructured interviews whereby expectations were discussed and recorded. Respondents were from the rural town of Klapmuts which is located within the broader Stellenbosch area. Responses were analyzed by means of the phenomenological methodology approach developed by Giorgi (1997). The findings indicate that patients expect physical and psychosocial care which can be divided into six sub-themes: i) hygiene; ii) feeding; iii) physical assistance; iv) communicate care; v) support; vi) need for community. This study revealed in excess of forty caring activities that study participants expect from their home-based caregivers that may be utilized as future focus areas of home-based caregiver training initiatives. Recommendations for future research include the enquiry into the role of patient relatives’ and members of the community, as essential components of the unit of care. In addition, further investigation is required to determine the specific psychosocial needs of palliative patients, their relatives, and communities located in the outlying regions of South Africa.