Role adaptation of family caregivers for ventilator‐dependent patients: transition from respiratory care ward to home

Aim and objectives. To explore the underlying theoretical framework for the role adaptation of family caregivers for ventilator‐dependent patients after transferring from respiratory care ward to home. Background. The number of ventilator‐dependent patients has been increasing worldwide. Under Taiwan’s National Health Insurance policy, if ventilator‐dependent patients are stable, they should be transferred from an acute care hospital to a subacute unit or home. Design. A qualitative design based on grounded theory was adopted for this study. Methods. One‐on‐one, in‐depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 15 family caregivers who were caretaking ventilator‐dependent patients at their home two months after hospital discharge. Theoretical sampling was used until concepts emerging in data analysis were saturated. Analysis of audio‐taped interview transcripts generated a process of role adaptation for family caregivers of a ventilator‐dependent patient. Results. The caregiver’s transition to the care‐giving role is a dynamic process with consequences that are impacted by level of support from the family, affective rewards from the patient, patient’s health condition and a balanced life schedule for the caregiver. Conclusions. The results of this study can provide respiratory care professionals with skills to assess the needs of caregivers for ventilator‐dependent patients and individualise interventions to caregivers’ specific needs. Relevance to clinical practice. The findings of this study contribute to nurses’ understanding and promotion of role adaptation for family caregivers among ventilator‐dependent patients.