Perceived Grief Among Caregivers of Patients With Dementia in China

Li, Jufang; Li, Yun; Li, Ping

doi:10.1177/1054773819839265

Cited by 7 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Based on the results of this study, family caregivers with low income may have higher levels of anticipatory grief. Similar results have been obtained from a previous study [37]. However, we believe that income may not directly influence anticipatory grief, but rather is mediated through caregiver burden.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

The relationship between anticipatory grief and illness uncertainty among Chinese family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer: a cross-sectional study

Sun

Zhang

et al. 2022

BMC Palliat Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Anticipatory grief has been shown to be highly prevalent among family caregivers of patients with advanced illness. Qualitative study suggests that illness uncertainty may be one of the core characteristics of anticipatory grief, but it has not been confirmed in quantitative studies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between anticipatory grief and illness uncertainty among Chinese family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer and to determine the factors influencing anticipatory grief. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study used a convenience sampling method and recruited 254 inpatient family caregivers from the thoracic medicine ward of Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute in Shenyang, mainland China. Anticipatory grief (Anticipatory Grief Scale (AGS), illness uncertainty (Uncertainty in Illness Scale Family Caregiver Version) and sociodemographic information (Self-compiled general information questionnaire) were measured using validated self-report measures. Results Chinese family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer had high levels of anticipatory grief (73.5 ± 16.1). The results of the correlation analysis showed a positive association between anticipatory grief and illness uncertainty (r = 0.580, P < 0.001). The final linear regression model with anticipatory grief as the dependent variable included four variables: illness uncertainty (β = 0.674, P < 0.001), lack of informativeness (β = − 0.168, P = 0.08), monthly income (β = 0.139, P = 0.006), and caregiving burden (β = − 0.196, P < 0.001). Conclusions Illness uncertainty is probably an important factor affecting anticipatory grief. Excessive caregiving burden is associated with high levels of anticipatory grief. Improving illness uncertainty and caregiving burden may effectively reduce anticipatory grief among Chinese family caregivers.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

The relationship between anticipatory grief and illness uncertainty among Chinese family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer: a cross-sectional study

Sun

Zhang

et al. 2022

BMC Palliat Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Four studies used the term, grief in caregivers, to describe family member’s grief while a person with a life-limiting illness is still alive. Two studies 93,117 offered definitions of grief in caregivers, whereas two studies did not define the construct. 101,102 Ott et al 117 used Rando’s 12 definition.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…101,102 Ott et al 117 used Rando's 12 definition. Li et al 93 defined grief in caregivers as various physical and emotional reactions due to the various losses associated with dementia.…”

Section: Grief In Caregiversmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three of the studies enrolled family members of dementia patients, and one study enrolled family members who had an acquired brain injury. One of the studies used the Marwit-Meuser-Caregiver Grief Inventory, 101 and three used the Marwit-Meuser-Caregiver Grief Inventory-Short Form 93,117 Multiple terms used There were 19 studies that used multiple terms (e.g. anticipatory grief and pre-loss grief) within a single article to describe family members' grief experiences.…”

Section: Grief In Caregiversmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

An examination and proposed definitions of family members’ grief prior to the death of individuals with a life-limiting illness: A systematic review

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Research has extensively examined family members’ grief prior to the death of an individual with a life-limiting illness but several inconsistencies in its conceptualization of related constructs, yet significant conceptualization issues exist. Aim: This study aimed to identify and characterize studies published on family members grief before the death of an individual with a life-limiting illness, and propose definitions based on past studies in order to initiate conceptual clarity. Design: A mixed-method systematic review utilized six databases and was last conducted July 10, 2021. The search strategy was developed using Medical Subject Headings. This study was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020166254). Results: One hundred thirty-four full-text articles met inclusion criteria. This review revealed across studies a wide variation in terminology, conceptualization, and characterization of grief before the death. More than 18 terms and 30 definitions have been used. In many cases, the same term (e.g. anticipatory grief) was defined differently across studies. Conclusions: We found grief occurring before the death of a person with a life-limiting illness, which we termed pre-death grief, is comprised of two distinct constructs: anticipatory grief and illness-related grief. Anticipatory grief is future-oriented and is characterized by separation distress and worry about a future without the person with the life-limiting illness being physically present. Illness-related grief is present-oriented and is characterized by grief over current and ongoing losses experienced during the illness trajectory. These definitions provide the field with uniform constructs to advance the study of grief before the death of an individual with a life-limiting illness.

show abstract

The three dimensions of caregiver grief in dementia caregiving: Validity and utility of the subscales of the Marwit‐Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory

Chan

Yap

Wee

et al. 2019

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe experience of grief in family caregivers as they provide care for persons with dementia is often overlooked. The Marwit‐Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory (MM‐CGI) is one among the few scales that capture such experiences. In a recent study, MM‐CGI was found to contain three subscales identifying dimensions of loss in caregivers—Personal‐Sacrifice Burden (PSB), Heartfelt Sadness, Longing, and Worry (HSLW), and Felt Isolation (FI). We aimed to evaluate the validity and utility of these dimensions in a multiethnic Asian population.MethodsFamily caregivers (n = 394) completed MM‐CGI and scales assessing caregiver burden, depression, and gains. Internal consistency reliability was examined using Cronbach α; test‐retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient; and construct validity using Pearson correlation coefficient. The utility of the MM‐CGI dimensions was evaluated by comparing caregivers with high subscale scores across dementia stages and caregiving relationship.ResultsThe three dimensions of MM‐CGI exhibited adequate internal consistency, test‐retest reliability, construct validity, and known‐group validity. PSB correlated most strongly with caregiver burden (r = 0.78); HSLW with caregiver depression (r = 0.75); and FI with caregiver burden and caregiver depression (r = 0.60, respectively). Caregivers with high total grief scores tended to experience most difficulty with HSLW (90.8%), followed by PSB (75.4%) and FI (46.2%). The three dimensions also increased across the dementia stages, with FI higher in mild dementia, PSB higher in moderate dementia, and HSLW higher in severe dementia. Spousal caregivers experienced most difficulty in HSLW, whereas children caregivers experienced similar levels of difficulty across the dimensions.ConclusionsThe three dimensions of MM‐CGI captured distinct aspects of caregiver grief in a multiethnic Asian population and would enable more individualized assessments and interventions for caregiver grief.

show abstract

Perceived Grief Among Caregivers of Patients With Dementia in China

Cited by 7 publications

References 41 publications

The relationship between anticipatory grief and illness uncertainty among Chinese family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer: a cross-sectional study

The relationship between anticipatory grief and illness uncertainty among Chinese family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer: a cross-sectional study

An examination and proposed definitions of family members’ grief prior to the death of individuals with a life-limiting illness: A systematic review

The three dimensions of caregiver grief in dementia caregiving: Validity and utility of the subscales of the Marwit‐Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About