Family caregivers of patients in the advanced stages of cancer experience a high level of psychological distress, which increases significantly as the patient loses autonomy. Health care policies and programs need to be revisited in order to take the reality of these patients and their families into account.

The present paper deals with the derivation of a higher order theory of interface models. In particular, it is studied the problem of two bodies joined by an adhesive interphase for which "soft" and "hard" linear elastic constitutive laws are considered. For the adhesive, interface models are determined by using two different methods. The first method is based on the matched asymptotic expansion technique, which adopts the strong formulation of classical continuum mechanics equations (compatibility, constitutive and equilibrium equations). The second method adopts a suitable variational (weak) formulation, based on the minimization of the potential energy. First and higher order interface models are derived for soft and hard adhesives. In particular, it is shown that the two approaches, strong and weak formulations, lead to the same asymptotic equations governing the limit behavior of the adhesive as its thickness vanishes. The governing equations derived at zero order are then put in comparison with the ones accounting for the first order of the asymptotic expansion, thus remarking the influence of the higher order terms and of the higher order derivatives on the interface response. Moreover, it is shown how the elastic properties of the adhesive enter the higher order terms. The effects taken into account by the latter ones could play an important role in the nonlinear response of the interface, herein not investigated. Finally, two simple applications are developed in order to illustrate the differences among the interface theories at the different orders

Family caregivers of a loved one with advanced cancer are at risk for developing bereavement complications following the loss of the person they cared for. However, little research has studied caregiving and bereavement experiences as an ongoing process. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying the main elements constitutive of the experience of providing care and assistance to a patient with terminal cancer that influence the grieving process. This qualitative study, conducted among 18 family caregivers, led to the specification of six principal dimensions of the caregiving experience: characteristics of the family caregiver and of the patient, symptoms of the illness, the relational context, social and professional support, and circumstances surrounding the death. Among these dimensions, the constituent elements of the caregiving experience that might positively or negatively influence the grieving process were identified. This knowledge is useful for a more perspicuous identification of caregivers who might experience bereavement complications.

Such results provide a comprehensive picture of costs related to palliative care in Canada, by specifying the cost sharing between the PHCS, the family, and NFPO.