Research Briefs
Question Asking by Family Caregivers in Hospice Interdisciplinary Team Meetings

Research in Gerontological Nursing  Vol. 3 No. 2 April 2010

By Elaine Wittenberg-Lyles, PhD; Debra Parker Oliver, PhD, MSW; George Demiris, PhD; Karla T. Washington, PhD; Kelly Regehr, MS; Heidi M. Wilder, BS

ABSTRACT

This article reports findings from a pilot study that enabled family caregivers to use videophone technology to participate in hospice interdisciplinary team meetings. The goal of the study was to ascertain which issues were important to caregivers and the hospice team. A qualitative content analysis of video-recorded team meetings between team members and caregivers was conducted. In a sample of 12 caregivers in 36 discussions, caregivers asked a total of 137 questions, with the majority being Yes/No questions (45.1%), primarily used to seek clarification (19.6%). Hospice staff asked 396 questions, with the majority consisting of Yes/No questions (66.5%), mainly used to ask about the overall condition of the patient (22.2%). Data from this study suggest that when given the opportunity to participate in hospice team meetings, caregivers will ask questions of hospice staff. In addition, in light of prior research, this study’s findings suggest that caregivers may have questions that go unaddressed, specifically regarding pain and medication.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dr. Wittenberg-Lyles is Assistant Professor, and Ms. Regehr is a graduate student, Department of Communication Studies, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas; Dr. Parker Oliver is Associate Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri; Dr. Demiris is Associate Professor, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, School of Nursing, and Medical Education and Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Dr. Washington is Assistant Professor, Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky; and Ms. Wilder is an MD candidate, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity. This project was funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, grant R21 CA 120179: Patient and Family Participation in Hospice Interdisciplinary Teams (Dr. Parker Oliver, PI).

Address correspondence to Elaine Wittenberg-Lyles, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of North Texas, PO Box 305268, Denton, TX 76203-5268; e-mail: lyles@unt.edu.

Received: December 30, 2008; Accepted: April 16, 2009; Posted: August 31, 2009

doi:10.3928/19404921-20090731-05