The Role of Heath Team in Coping Process of Family Caregivers with Patients Under Hemodialysis: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: The high dependence of hemodialysis patients on home caregivers is a great source of care burden for them; therefore, accountability with appropriate communication as well as appropriate behavior and attention to needs of caregiver by health care team is a serious impact on care burden. Methods: A content analysis approach was used for data collection and analysis. The participants included16 family caregivers selected through purposive sampling from 4 medical education centers affiliated with Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Semi-structured interviews were held to collect data. Results: Data analysis led to the emergence of 3 themes including “responsive treatment team” “negative influences of the treatment team,” and “collaborative care,” which were all incorporated into the main theme of “an effective treatment team”. Conclusions: The treatment team can play an effective role in improving the caregivers’ well-being by appropriate treatment, accountability, and responsiveness to the needs of patients and their caregivers; meanwhile, it provides a better position for better care, however, it will reduce the care burden.