Palliative care: the experience of informal carers within the Bangladeshi community

Abstract

Optimal palliative care cannot be realized unless nurses have a full understanding of what the patient's family is experiencing. There is a gap in nursing knowledge related to informal care and ethnic minorities. The aim of this retrospective qualitative exploratory study was to investigate the experiences of Bangladeshi informal carers living in the UK, associated with caring for a dying relative. Semi-structured interviews using an interpreter were carried out and patient notes were examined. Four categories emerged from the data: caring, support, communication, and home and family. In addition to the demands and stresses caused by their relative's symptoms and the knowledge that they were dying, the Bangladeshi carers experienced communication barriers, isolation and anxieties regarding visas and housing--yet all were uncomplaining about their situation. Palliative care nurses working with Bangladeshi families need to be aware of the additional stresses that these families may experience and be able to offer strategies to enable them to cope with them.

Cross‐cultural interview studies using interpreters: systematic literature review

“…In 10 studies, the number of interpreters ranged from one to five: one interpreter in seven studies (Kulig 1995, Essén et al. 2000, Kapborg 2000, Silveira & Allebeck 2001, Somerville 2001, Miller et al. 2002, Dagher & Ross 2004), two in two studies (Kulig 1988, 1990), three interpreters in one study (Olsson et al.…”

The meanings of cancer and perceptions of cancer services among South Asians in Luton, UK

“…Communication has been identified as the key and most crucial factor in all the research conducted around the issues of cancer and ethnic minority groups, whether in the context of preventative health, screening programmes, services in the community, or treatment and care provided in secondary and tertiary settings (see, for example, Somerville, 1998;Randhawa et al, 2003).…”

Meeting the Challenge of Diabetes in Ageing and Diverse Populations: A Review of the Literature from the UK

“…Communication difficulties are a challenge in the day-to-day provision of renal care [69] as well as for end of life care services to South Asian patients who are often older and do not speak English as their first language [70, 71]. …”