I-Poems: A Window Into the Personal Experiences of Family Caregivers of People Living With Advanced Cancer.
Charlotte R Weiss, Rachel Johnson-Koenke, Karen H Sousa
PMID 38498857WHAT IT FOUND
Five family caregivers of people with advanced cancer described how caregiving transformed their sense of self.
Themes included past caring informing present practice, finding new purpose, and connecting with nature or art. These narratives offer empathy for clinicians, not evidence of efficacy.
Key findings
01Caregivers reported that previous experiences caring for family members with cancer shaped their current approach to self-care and caring for their loved ones.
02Participants described finding new meaning and purpose in life through the act of caring, often linked to spiritual beliefs or relationship vows.
03Caregiving led to transformed relationships with others and new ways of connecting with the natural world or artistic practices to manage uncertainty.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only five participants, which limits the transferability of the themes to other populations. The participants were primarily spouses, with one daughter and one cousin, and most were White non-Hispanic, which may not reflect the diversity of caregiver experiences. The use of 'I-Poems' is an interpretive method, meaning the findings are shaped by the researchers' subjective analysis and positionality. Some caregivers spoke using 'we' instead of 'I', making it difficult to isolate individual perspectives from the relational unit.
Declared interests
The lead author is supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that caregiving causes positive psychological outcomes or that specific interventions like art or nature exposure will improve caregiver well-being. This is a small, descriptive qualitative study of five people's lived experiences, not a test of efficacy.