ArticleBMJ open2019
Support to informal caregivers of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study of caregivers' and professionals' experiences in Swedish hospitals.
Article in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The roles and experiences of informal caregivers in non-malignant respiratory disease at the end of life: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.Palliative & supportive care · 2026Pooled it
- Support and Its Effect for Persons Affected by COPD and Their Next of Kin - an Systematic Integrative Review.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2025Pooled it
- Trial
- Unmet needs of older spousal caregivers for older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the context of dual ageing: a scoping review.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- A Phenomenological Qualitative Study of Primary Informal Caregiver of Chinese Patients with Advanced Stage COPD: An In-Depth Exploration of Experiences and Needs.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2026Article
- Patient-Caregiver Dyads in Severe and Advanced COPD: Relationships, Caregiving Burden, and Intervention Support: A Narrative Review.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2026Review
- The needs of the family caregivers of patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study in Iran.BMC nursing · 2025Article
- Interventions for Caregivers of Heart Disease Patients in Rehabilitation: Scoping Review.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2023Article
- Ten minutes to midnight: a narrative inquiry of people living with dying with advanced copd and their family members.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2021Article
- Informal carers in Sweden - striving for partnership.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2021Article
- Impact of Caregiving Burden on Quality of Life of Caregivers of COPD Patients: The Chain Mediating Role of Social Support and Negative Coping Styles.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesInformal caregivers of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience a heavy caregiver burden, but few studies have explored what support they need. The aim of this study was to describe perceptions of healthcare support to informal caregivers, both from the family caregiver's and the staff's perspective.
designA qualitative interview study involving semi-structured interviews and analysed with content analysis.
participantsIn total, 54 participated: 36 informal caregivers of patients with severe (stage 3-4) COPD and 17 healthcare staff.
resultsTwo main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Ambiguity impedes provision of support. Both caregivers and staff experienced ambiguity. The informal caregivers needed emotional, practical and informational support but talked about unclear expectations, while the staff described an uncertainty about their duties regarding the families. There were no routines to unburden the families. Moreover, language and cultural barriers hampered their efforts. (2) Knowledgeable and perceptive communication is key to support. Both caregivers and staff described positive experiences of dialogue. The dialogue may facilitate means to caregiver support and was a support in itself.
conclusionsOur findings suggest that strategies and routines for caregiver support, including communication skills among the staff, should be developed, to move toward the family perspective advocated in palliative- and nursing family care.
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