Experiences of healthcare professionals as caregivers of a dying family member: an exploratory study

Background: Many health-care professionals also take on a caregiver role at home, usually by caring for a dying relative. Very little is known about the perceptions, experiences and needs of this specific group of carers. Objective: To understand the perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals as caregivers and identify their needs. Methods: Health-care professionals working at one health unit in Portugal participated in a semi-structured interview (n=9). Data were analysed and organised thematically. Results: Four key themes emerged from the analysis: (i) the perception of the caregiver role, (ii) the difficulties experienced in the caregiver role, (iii) the rewards obtained by carrying out the caregiver role and (iv) the healthcare professional's needs as a caregiver. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals' needs as caregivers are not assessed and addressed holistically, creating room for improvement. Participants felt emotionally pressured by their families to get answers and find solutions during caregiving. Despite it being a complex and painful process, participants still gave examples of rewards experienced during caregiving.