Spirituality in Brazilian family caregivers of patients with cancer from the end-of-life care to bereavement

Although spirituality can be a source of support during end-of-life and engage a transformative experience after loss, few studies report family members' spiritual and existential needs considering their experiences over time. We conducted a longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Death studies 2023-03, Vol.47 (3), p.249-258
Main Authors: Benites, Andrea Carolina, Arantes de Oliveira-Cardoso, Érika, dos Santos, Manoel Antônio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bereavement
Brazil
Cancer
Caregivers
Grief
Humans
Neoplasms
Spirituality
Terminal Care
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Summary:Although spirituality can be a source of support during end-of-life and engage a transformative experience after loss, few studies report family members' spiritual and existential needs considering their experiences over time. We conducted a longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis from audio-recorded interviews of 10 family caregivers while providing end-of-life care for cancer patients and during bereavement. Participants' spirituality experiences were presented in three superordinate themes: connectedness with religious beliefs and the deceased; re-signifying relationships, life, and loss; suffering and the family caregiver's needs. Finding connection through relationships, greater existential and spiritual suffering post-loss were important issues involved in expressing their spirituality.
ISSN:0748-1187
1091-7683
DOI:10.1080/07481187.2022.2051095