TY - JOUR
T1 - Quality of Life of Older Adults with Complicated Grief
T2 - A Mixed Methods Exploration
AU - Mason, Tina M.
AU - Szalacha, Laura A.
AU - Tofthagen, Cindy S.
AU - Buck, Harleah G.
N1 - Funding Information:
From Moffitt Cancer Center (T.M.M.), University of South Florida College of Nursing (L.A.S.), and Morsani College of Medicine (L.A.S.), Tampa, and Mayo Clinic Florida, Department of Nursing (C.S.T.), Jacksonville, Florida; and Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence, University of Iowa College of Nursing (H.G.B.), Iowa City, Iowa. Disclosure: The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise. Funding: This work was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (R21AG056584). Address correspondence to Tina M. Mason, PhD, APRN, AOCN®, AOCNS®, FCNS, Moffi tt Cancer Center, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612; email: tina.mason@moffi tt.org. Received: August 6, 2021. Accepted: December 9, 2021. doi:10.3928/00989134-20220404-05
Publisher Copyright:
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PY - 2022/5
Y1 - 2022/5
N2 - The current mixed methods study investigated what changes in quality of life (QOL) mean to older adults with complicated grief treated with Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) post-hospice services. An informational matrix, which included select patient characteristics (e.g., number of comorbidities, single versus multiple deaths, relationship role), four identified qualitative themes, end of study QOL scores measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health-Related QOL Healthy Days Module, and changes in scores from baseline to end of study, was created to analyze the data. Results showed that although a history of multiple deaths may contribute to greater improvements in QOL with therapy, having at least one comorbidity resulted in a richer description and endorsement of QOL in response to treatment. This is the first longitudinal, randomized controlled trial using a mixed methods approach to examine QOL of hospice family caregivers with complicated grief who are receiving ART. This study identifies potential links of QOL and caregiver characteristics, providing nurses with foundational knowledge for assessment, care, and further research on the experiences of complicated grief.
AB - The current mixed methods study investigated what changes in quality of life (QOL) mean to older adults with complicated grief treated with Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) post-hospice services. An informational matrix, which included select patient characteristics (e.g., number of comorbidities, single versus multiple deaths, relationship role), four identified qualitative themes, end of study QOL scores measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health-Related QOL Healthy Days Module, and changes in scores from baseline to end of study, was created to analyze the data. Results showed that although a history of multiple deaths may contribute to greater improvements in QOL with therapy, having at least one comorbidity resulted in a richer description and endorsement of QOL in response to treatment. This is the first longitudinal, randomized controlled trial using a mixed methods approach to examine QOL of hospice family caregivers with complicated grief who are receiving ART. This study identifies potential links of QOL and caregiver characteristics, providing nurses with foundational knowledge for assessment, care, and further research on the experiences of complicated grief.
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U2 - 10.3928/00989134-20220404-05
DO - 10.3928/00989134-20220404-05
M3 - Article
C2 - 35511060
AN - SCOPUS:85129998261
SN - 0098-9134
VL - 48
SP - 19
EP - 26
JO - Journal of Gerontological Nursing
JF - Journal of Gerontological Nursing
IS - 5
ER -