1. Supporting Caregivers in Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study of Their Activities and Roles
- Author
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Shilo Anders, Laurie L. Novak, Hannah Aaron, and Gretchen Purcell Jackson
- Subjects
lcsh:R5-920 ,Pregnancy ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Health (social science) ,patient engagement ,Leadership and Management ,business.industry ,caregiving ,Health Policy ,challenges ,Patient engagement ,medicine.disease ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,women’s health ,030225 pediatrics ,Family medicine ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,lcsh:Medicine (General) ,business ,Research Articles ,Qualitative research - Abstract
Background: The significant role of lay caregivers has been explored in chronic and acute illnesses. In pregnancy, caregivers’ (eg, the baby’s father, friends, and family) roles in promoting the health of the mother and baby are not well understood. Objective: We characterize the activities and roles of pregnancy caregivers and offer opportunities for engaging this important group. Method: We conducted interviews with 29 pregnancy caregivers. Interview transcripts were analyzed inductively, resulting in a coding scheme of actions and roles that pregnancy caregivers perform. Results: The most common actions and roles included searching for information (97%), accompanying patients to medical appointments (69%), and being a source of emotional support (76%). Identified actions and roles fit a patient work framework, including work types identified by Corbin and Strauss: illness, everyday life, biographical, articulation, and invisible. Conclusion: The patient work framework can be employed to describe the activities and roles of pregnancy caregivers. We have contributed new insights into the experiences of pregnancy caregivers and recommendations for educational and technological interventions.
- Published
- 2018
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