Determinants of Complicated Grief in Caregivers Who Cared for Terminal Cancer Patients - Research Paper Example

JOURNAL CRITIQUE: DETERMINANTS OF COMPLICATED GRIEF IN CAREGIVERS WHO CARED FOR TERMINAL CANCER PATIENTS Chiu, Yu-Wen:Huang, Chia-Tsuan Huang, et al. "Determinants of complicated grief in caregivers who cared." Original Article (2009): 7. Introduction This journal critique seeks to review research work done on an aim to evaluate the determinants of complicated grief among caregivers who care for terminal cancer patients. Moreover, it clearly demonstrates some of the works that have been carried out by scholars affiliated to nursing profession. This study was carried out at the hospice ward at the Institutional Review Board of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital in Taiwan. A total of 916 caregivers were interviewed over the phone. The participants were caregivers who had their patients die in the past 8 to 12 months. Results from the research showed that complicated grief was predisposed by the following factors; female gender ,confidence interval, spouse relationship, parents–children relationship, lack of religious, unavailable family support, and history of mood co-morbidity. Results also found factors that reduced complicated grief and this included; longer duration of caring, medical disease history of the caregiver, and patients being cared for on the hospice ward. The authors have put enough work on previous literature concerning the research. Cotrrell and McKenzie (40) says people often neglect literature review and its importance of review and most times. As a matter of fact, they blame literature review for delay in starting the research. Literature review helps justify the importance of the research while at the same time put the research in historical perspective. Hypothesis This research has not indicated a clear hypothesis for the whole study. Nonetheless, the researchers have developed one null hypothesis stating that there is no significant relationship between variables. The other hypothesis states that female gender might be of increased risks for complicated grief compared with male. Theoretical frameworks The authors have clearly established a relevant theoretical framework for the study. The authors argue that the death of cancer patients leaves their caregivers with complicated grief. The authors explain that this is caused by moments and times shared by the two parties. The authors work with assumptions based on reports from literature reports and also generally accepted. The authors develop a theoretical time it takes for an individual to grief the loss of a loved one. The study works with an average period of 8.9 months. This concept helps the study develop a time line for different activities. Research Design The authors have used an experimental approach in the study. The study has set out orderly procedures trying to verify or establish the validity of the hypothesis. Experiment is a better approach when establishing insight on cause-and-effect by demonstrating the consequences of manipulation of a particular factor. Nevertheless, this journal has its uniqueness in that it is one of the few nursing journals that do not have a clear hypothesis. Thus, researchers have not clearly stated the hypothesis of the study. In addition, the research questions are not clearly outlined. The research has clear dependent variables which include the relationship between the caregiver and the patient, gender of the two parties, their religion and age among others. On developing operational definitions, the authors did not make any definitions for keywords such as hospice. In the abstract area, researcher defines these terms indirectly as they introduce the purpose for the research. According to Rubin and Babbie(130), Says how a researcher chooses to operationally define variables can greatly influence the research findings. Operational definitions tend to translate variables into observable terms. The researchers identified 668 caregivers who cared for terminally ill cancer patients in hospice or those who received shared-care consultation. The research was based on grief experienced upon the death of their current patients. ` Data Collection and statistics This research involves human beings and in most cases, such studies require complete consent from the participating individual. The researchers didn’t indicate any details concerning informed consent. The authors talk about the criteria for selecting the participants but no details concerning briefing. According to UNC CHARLOTTE (Para.1-2) research with human subjects comes with complex ethical issues that greatly need serious considerations by both the researcher and the participant. Extensive details concerning the research should be made available to the prospective participants. The participants should be informed of possible risks. At the same time potential benefits for their involvement should be clarified. The caregivers are interviewed over the phone for an average 20 minutes by trained interviewers. The multifaceted benefit of telephone interviewing makes it preferable for this study than face-to-face interviewing. First, telephone interviewing is cheaper compared to face-to-face interviewing. While face-to-face interviewing demands travelling to meet all the participants in a study, which is quite expensive especially for a large sample size, phone interviewing offers a platform to reach all participants from one place by simply making calls to conduct the interviews. Phone interviewing eliminates travel cost while providing the researcher with access to varied information for the study (Block and Erskine 430). Phone interview also require fewer interviewers compared to face-to-face interviewing, thus minimize research costs. Second, phone interview offers quicker turnaround time compared to face-to-face interview (Block and Erskine 431). This is because several participants can be reached within a short time frame than can be possible with face-to-face interviews. Consequently, phone interview is more time efficient than face-to-face interview. Third, phone interview is more flexible compared to face-to-face interview. The interviewers can reach participants who may not be available for face-to-face interviews. Moreover, phone interview is a good approach because most people tend to be sincere and welcoming through conversation over the phone. Nonetheless, the study indicates that three of the selected caregivers could not be reached over the phone, which exhibits one of the limitations of phone communication. There are also chances of the interviewee manipulating information since they are not on a face-to-face level with the interviewer. The reliability and validity of measurement instruments used is challenged by the fact that the interview is done over the telephone; it is possible for the interviewer to talk to the wrong person and assume that the data collected is correct. The initial details concerning the participant might be true but the data collected would be wrong as they do not represent the target population. Conclusions and recommendations According to the study results some of the significant determinants established are; female gender, spouse relationship, parent–child relationship, shorter caring duration from caregiver, lack of religious belief, unavailable family and social support, pre-existing experience of mood co-morbidity, lack of previous medical disease history, and no hospice ward stays. The researchers recommend further research on mood disorder of caregivers and complicated grief. This is because the two aspects are equivocal and might be difficult to distinguish them. The study showed that mood disorder among caregivers had a slight risk increase upon complicated grief. References This field of study is relatively new. There few research studies concern complicated grief for caregivers who look after cancer patients. According to Tomarken, Holland and Schachter (Para.1) few researchers have ventured into this area. There are very minimal sources talking about complicated grief that caregivers experience prior to the death. This study aimed to evaluate differences in caregiver age groups and potential risk factors for complicated grief post-death. The researcher used a total of 28 references. However, some of the references are relatively old and this does not get along well with the fast advancement in the medical department and research. Overall Critique This was a very in-depth research project, particularly for a journal article. The fact that the research was singled out to caregivers and not any professional consultant makes this research unique. There was an obvious need for a short analysis of literature to develop different concepts for the study. The participants are caregivers who had already experienced the loss of a loved one before the start of the research. This simply means that the participants have at some point accepted their loss and have moved on. If the participation in the research comes with benefits, some participants may get involved because of the benefits. The research was also limited in its area of scope. Despite the fact that the researchers analysed study works from other authors, it does not change the fact that every some factors are held differently in other parts of the world. Limiting the study within Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital hospice ward in Taiwan does not give the research a global authenticity. Most researchers use the Texas Inventory of Grief (TRIG) to carry behavioral studies the researchers in this article have used the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) which was very appropriate considering the fact that the research deals with complicated or abnormal grief. TRIG mainly assesses more normal grief symptoms. On the other hand ICG is used. The research however got a little complicated in the results area of due to the complicated statistical procedures and figures used. Overall, the research was very interesting and significant contribution to the related field of research Conclusion This research has been done thoroughly and despite the few challenges, the authors have maximized the minimal resources that were available to them. The same research should be done in the future but at a wider scope. Other than limiting the research in a single hospital, this research should be done in the national level where all major cancer treating facilities are involved. From the research results, the female gender is most affected group. A future research should try establish the reason why this is the case. The research also shows that parent-child relationship is a major determinant. Future research should also try differentiating the degree of grief from child to parent and also from the parent to child. The study shows that individuals who have high a degree in social or family support are less stressed compared to those with low degree of support from the families and the society. Although the journal has its impact, future study should try expounding on this phenomenon. In the research, the research should consider stress in general other than complicated grief. Works Cited: Block, Emily S.and Laura Erskine. Interviewing by Telephone: Specific Considerations, Opportunities, and Challenges. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 11.4 (2012): 428-445. Cotrrell, Randy and James F. McKenzie. Health Promotion & Education Research Methods: Using the Five Chapter Thesis/ Dissertation Model. Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2010. Print National Cancer Institute. Family Caregivers in Cancer. 1 August 2013. Web 10th March 2015< . Rubin, Allen and Earl R Babbie. Empowerment Series: Essential Research Methods for Social Work. Boston, MA: CENGAGE Learning Custom Publishing, 2015. Print. Tomarken, Alexis, et al. "Psycho-Ochology." 18 April 2007. Wiley Online Library. Web on 11th March 2015 . UNC CHARLOTTE. Informed Consent. 23 January 2014. Web 11th March 2015 . Read More