KMID : 0895920220240030257
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Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing 2022 Volume.24 No. 3 p.257 ~ p.268
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Caring Experience of Spouse Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer's Disease: A Qualitative Study
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Lee Jin-Hee
Hong Gwi-Ryung Son
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Abstract
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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning of caregiving experiences derived from male and female caregivers whose spouses were diagnosed with Alzheimer¡¯s disease.
Methods: The data were collected from October to December 2021 through one-on-one in-depth interviews with six male and six female spouse caregivers and analyzed based on the Colaizzi's phenomenological method.
Results: In accordance with the results, three categories and six themes were respectively deduced for each group by gender. The results illustrate that the group of males tended to adapt themselves to a new role of caregiving by utilizing external resources and maintaining a positive attitude to continue their duties. The deeper the family members¡¯ trust in them, the greater their motivation to sustain caregiving duties. Female caregivers tended to perceive caregiving as an additional duty to what they had been doing; therefore, they became mentally and physically exhausted. Nevertheless, they reduced stress through socializing with others and performing outdoor activities. Continuously interacting with their spouses also helped them continue caregiving.
Conclusion: This study suggests a need for understanding a gender difference in caregiving roles and perceptions and the importance of developing a gender-specific program to support family caregivers. Future studies are warranted to develop an educational program for different roles and responsibilities that might be influenced by the caregiver¡¯s gender and should verify the effect of the program.
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KEYWORD
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Alzheimer disease, Caregivers, Qualitative research
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