AEGiS-06IAC: Family caregivers of PWAs: experiences with health care providers.

6th International AIDS Conference


San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

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Family caregivers of PWAs: experiences with health care providers.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:330 (abstract no. Th.D.819)
Powell-Cope GM; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

OBJECTIVE: The study's purpose was to examine caring from health care professionals (HCP) as experienced by family caregivers (FCG) of PWAs. Caring is defined as "a nurturing way of relating to a valued other toward whom one feels a personal sense of commitment and responsibility" (Swanson-Kauffman, 1989).

METHODS: Phenomenology (Omery, 1983) was used to determine sample size, and procedures for data collection and analysis. This volunteer sample of 12 FCGs consisted of: 4 women, 8 men; 2 friends of the PWA; 5 gay and 3 heterosexual partners; and 2 parents. In-depth interviews were conducted. Results focus on responses to the questions: 1) How have you been treated by HCPs, and 2) Can you describe an interaction that made you feel cared for by a HCP? Data were compared within and between participants, and to the Swanson-Kauffman caring categories. Validity and reliability were addressed.

RESULTS: "Knowing" (defined as striving to understand an event as it has meaning in the life of another) was the most frequently reported caring category. Knowing referred to the desire to be understood as a caring family member, not as an outsider in the PWA's care. FCGs want to be included in discussions and decisions, and acknowledged for the expertise they have acquired by living with the PWA. FCGs felt that knowing was blocked by homophobia and health care systems that formally do not recognize friends and lovers as family members.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings have implications for all HCPs as they are challenged to provide family-oriented care to PWAs. It is essential to strive to understand the experiences of FCGs, negotiate with FCGs, and create partnerships with PWAs and their families.

Keywords: AEGIS, Caregivers, Family, Empathy, Interpersonal Relations, Interviews, Emotions, Motivation, Human, Female, Male, ICA6KWDaegis,caregivers,family,empathy,interpersonalrelations,interviews,emotions,motivation,human,female,male,ica6

900620
ThD819

Copyright © 1990 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.