Abstract:
Aim: The purpose of this research is to discover the experiences of the families with Persistence Vegetative State (PVS) patients
have during homecare after being discharged from Palliative Care Center. In this study, it has been tried to bring out the difficulties
occurring during homecare and the reasons for these difficulties.
Material and Methods: The study is envisioned to be qualitative in regards with phenomenological approach, face to face and semistructured interviews. The study carried out with the 17 family members of patients with PVS voluntarily at their houses. Interviews
were analyzed according to qualitative content analysis.
Results: The age average of the family members in this study were 48.2±14.3 year, 12(70.6%) of them were woman. 7(41,2%) of
the care providers were the spouse of the patient. The families gave homecare at a median value of 466(IQR =326) days. The
study results brought out 4 main themes. The main themes were; Severe Burden, Concern/Fear, Limitations/Incompetencies, Hope/
Acceptance/Rejection.
Conclusions: The study results indicate that it is very tough for families to have patients with PVS and they have to go through
some strains as a result of the circumstances. With this study, it’s set forth that in order to reintegrate these families into the
society, support the ones with financial, physical and psychosocial problems, there has to be a social, health related and economic
interference and policies have to be developed.
