Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867614089419685888 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Esterhuyse, Corlia Stephanie |
| author2 | Finnemore, Josane |
| author_browse | Esterhuyse, Corlia Stephanie Finnemore, Josane |
| author_facet | Finnemore, Josane Esterhuyse, Corlia Stephanie |
| author_sort | Esterhuyse, Corlia Stephanie |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132216 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:29.473Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132216 Social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care Esterhuyse, Corlia Stephanie Finnemore, Josane Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work. Palliative treatment -- Social aspects Social work with the terminally ill Caregivers -- Psychological aspects Home care services -- Therapy Terminal care -- Family relationships Caregivers -- Mental health Hospice care -- Social aspects UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Esterhuyse, C. S. 2025. Social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/d8391361-3d58-4457-8ca4-b88686209cae ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As South Africa’s population ages, the demand for palliative care, particularly for patients with palliative illnesses like stage 4 cancer, has significantly increased. This study utilizes a qualitative research methodology to explore the social support services available to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care who are involved in home-based palliative care. The study highlights the essential role of social workers within multidisciplinary teams. Family caregivers often face emotional, physical and psychological challenges while providing care for palliative ill loved one’s. Despite their critical contributions, these caregivers often experience high levels of burden, emphasized by a lack of organized support systems to address their needs. Through qualitative interviews with social workers in the palliative care field, this research identifies the specific circumstances and needs of family caregivers. It seeks to understand the nature and scope of social support services currently provided and how these services can be improved to alleviate caregiver burden. The research concluded that there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of palliative care principles and the impact of medical aid on service delivery, revealing that patients with palliative care benefits receive superior home support, which positively affects caregiver well-being. This thesis examines the critical role of palliative care in supporting family caregivers of cancer patients and highlights the importance of social workers in enhancing quality of life for both patients and families. It emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of palliative care principles and the impact of medical aid on service delivery, revealing that patients with palliative care benefits receive superior home support, which positively affects caregiver well-being. The study identifies significant gaps in formal training for social workers, particularly at the undergraduate level, advocating for improved educational opportunities focused on palliative care. Key themes include the necessity of assessing family needs to provide appropriate support, effective crisis management strategies, and the vital role of family education in alleviating caregiver anxiety. The findings underscore the importance of integrating family dynamics into palliative care, recognizing the complexities of family relationships and belief systems, which can influence both caregiving and patient experiences. A holistic approach that addresses these dynamics is essential for effective palliative care, ultimately fostering better support for patients and their families during challenging times. This thesis explores the complex and cyclical nature of grief experienced by family caregivers in palliative care, revealing that it encompasses stages such as denial, anger, depression, and acceptance. Participants noted that anticipatory grief is prevalent as caregivers witness their loved one’s prolonged illness, leading to emotional turmoil and a profound sense of loss. The study highlights that a life-limiting cancer diagnosis significantly impacts caregivers, resulting in diminished social lives, changes in relationships, and a loss of purpose, all of which contribute to distress during the end-of-life phase. The findings emphasize that denial acts as a protective mechanism, while anger often surfaces as families confront the diagnosis. Acceptance is portrayed as a shift towards prioritizing quality of life. The narratives illustrate that the effects of caregiving extend beyond the patient’s passing, with participants advocating for bereavement counseling to address ongoing grief. Additionally, caregiver burden emerged as a critical theme, with participants identifying the demands of advanced care planning and resource access as significant stressors, particularly in underserved areas. Financial strain and complex family dynamics exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and burnout among caregivers. Despite these challenges, some report personal growth and resilience. Regarding the social support available to family caregivers pre-and post-death, findings indicate that while caregivers receive adequate support prior to the death of their loved ones, there is a significant deficiency in bereavement services afterward. Participants reported experiencing complicated grief due to insufficient resources and counselling, particularly in the year following a loss, which can profoundly affect their quality of life. The study highlights that limitations imposed by medical aids often restrict access to necessary bereavement counselling sessions, leaving caregivers vulnerable to prolonged distress. Continuous emotional support is deemed essential not only immediately after a loss but also during subsequent months and anniversaries that may trigger renewed grief. Participants emphasized the importance of social workers in providing sustained support and raising awareness about the risks of complicated grief. By addressing the emotional needs of caregivers throughout the caregiving journey, social workers can enhance grieving processes and improve overall caregiver well-being. By focusing on the perspectives of social workers, the study aims to inform practices that enhance the quality of life for both patients and their families, ensuring a holistic approach to palliative care that considers the caregiver’s well-being. The findings will bring awareness to the need of more effective support strategies for family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care, by identifying their unique circumstances and needs, which will ultimately facilitate better care outcomes in home-based palliative care settings. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Belangrike temas sluit die noodsaaklikheid in om familiebeseffings te evalueer om toepaslike ondersteuning te bied, effektiewe krisisbestuurstrategieë, en die belangrikheid van familieonderrig in die vermindering van versorgersangs. Die bevindinge beklemtoon die belangrikheid van die integrasie van familie-dinamika in palliatiewe sorg, met erkenning van die kompleksiteite van familieverhoudings en geloofstelsels wat beide versorging en pasiëntervaringe kan beïnvloed. 'n Holistiese benadering wat hierdie dinamika aanspreek, is noodsaaklik vir effektiewe palliatiewe sorg, wat uiteindelik beter ondersteuning vir pasiënte en hul families tydens uitdagende tye bevorder. Hierdie tesis verken die komplekse en siklies natuur van rouw wat deur familieversorgers in palliatiewe sorg ervaar word, en onthul dat dit stadiums soos ontkenning, woede, depressie en aanvaarding insluit. Deelnemers het opgemerk dat antisipatoriese rouw algemeen voorkom terwyl versorgers hul geliefdes se langdurige siekte waarneem, wat lei tot emosionele onrus en 'n diep gevoel van verlies. Die studie beklemtoon dat 'n lewensbeperkende kankerdiagnose 'n beduidende impak op versorgers het, wat lei tot verminderde sosiale lewens, veranderinge in verhoudings en 'n verlies aan doel, wat almal bydra tot onrus tydens die einde van die lewe. Die bevindinge beklemtoon dat ontkenning as 'n beskermende mechanisme optree, terwyl woede dikwels na vore kom wanneer families die diagnose konfronteer. Aanvaarding word uitgebeeld as 'n skuif na die prioritisering van lewenskwaliteit. Die narratiewe illustreer dat die gevolge van versorging verder strek as die pasiënt se afsterwe, met deelnemers wat pleit vir rouwberading om voortgesette rouw aan te spreek. Daarbenewens het versorgerslas as 'n kritieke tema na vore gekom, met deelnemers wat die vereistes van gevorderde sorgbeplanning en toegang tot hulpbronne as beduidende stresfaktore identifiseer, veral in onderbediende gebiede. Finansiële druk en komplekse familie-dinamika vererger gevoelens van onvoldoendeheid en uitbranding onder versorgers. Ten spyte van hierdie uitdagings, rapporteer sommige persoonlike groei en veerkragtigheid. Wat die sosiale ondersteuning betref wat aan familieversorgers voor en na die dood beskikbaar is, dui bevindinge aan dat terwyl versorgers voldoende ondersteuning ontvang voor die dood van hul geliefdes, daar 'n beduidende tekort aan rouwdienste daarna is. Deelnemers het gerapporteer dat hulle kompliseerde rouw ervaar weens onvoldoende hulpbronne en berading, veral in die jaar na 'n verlies, wat hul lewenskwaliteit aansienlik kan beïnvloed. Die studie beklemtoon dat beperkings wat deur mediese hulp opgelê word, dikwels toegang tot nodige rouwberading sessies beperk, wat versorgers kwesbaar laat vir langdurige onrus. Voortdurende emosionele ondersteuning word as noodsaaklik beskou, nie net onmiddellik na 'n verlies nie, maar ook gedurende daaropvolgende maande en herdenkings wat hernude rouw kan uitlok. Deelnemers het die belangrikheid van maatskaplike werkers beklemtoon in die verskaffing van volgehoue ondersteuning en die verhoging van bewustheid oor die risiko's van kompliseerde rouw. Deur die emosionele behoeftes van versorgers deur die versorgingsreis aan te spreek, kan maatskaplike werkers die rouwprosesse verbeter en die algehele welstand van versorgers verbeter. Deur fokus op die perspektiewe van maatskaplike werkers, beoog die studie om praktyke te informeer wat die lewenskwaliteit van beide pasiënte en hul families verbeter, en 'n holistiese benadering tot palliatiewe sorg te verseker wat die welstand van versorgers in ag neem. Die bevindinge sal bewustheid bring oor die behoefte aan meer effektiewe ondersteuningsstrategieë vir familieversorgers van kankerpasiënte in palliatiewe sorg, deur hul unieke omstandighede en behoeftes te identifiseer, wat uiteindelik beter sorguitkomste in tuisgebaseerde palliatiewe sorginstellings sal fasiliteer. Masters 2025-05-30T07:28:03Z 2025-05-30T07:28:03Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132216 Stellenbosch University 222 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Palliative treatment -- Social aspects Social work with the terminally ill Caregivers -- Psychological aspects Home care services -- Therapy Terminal care -- Family relationships Caregivers -- Mental health Hospice care -- Social aspects UCTD Esterhuyse, Corlia Stephanie Social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care |
| title | Social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care |
| title_full | Social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care |
| title_fullStr | Social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care |
| title_short | Social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care |
| title_sort | social support provided to family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care |
| topic | Palliative treatment -- Social aspects Social work with the terminally ill Caregivers -- Psychological aspects Home care services -- Therapy Terminal care -- Family relationships Caregivers -- Mental health Hospice care -- Social aspects UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132216 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT esterhuysecorliastephanie socialsupportprovidedtofamilycaregiversofcancerpatientsinpalliativecare |