Abstract
Background:
Caregivers are essential for improved outcomes in patients living with left ventricular assist device (LVAD). There is a paucity of research on a long-term LVAD caregivers' experiences and burdens.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to explore long-term challenges and needs of LVAD caregivers in the Asian health care setting.
Design:
We conducted semistructured interviews with caregivers of patients who were currently or previously living with the LVAD.
Settings/Subjects:
Caregivers were recruited from the National Heart Centre Singapore.
Measurements:
Interviews were conducted in English and Chinese. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed based on grounded theory. Chinese interviews were translated to English before transcription.
Results:
A multiethnic and multireligious sample of 11 caregivers participated. Median caregiving duration was 45 months. Caregivers described long-term challenges that were multifaceted. Misaligned patient expectations, stigmatization and limited social resources within the family and society affected caregivers' coping. Existing gender roles and spiritual and cultural influences shaped how caregivers appraised, made meaning of caregiving, and assessed support. Long-term caregivers' needs included learning from role models, shifting perspectives, enhancing communication between patient and caregivers, advocacy efforts, and holistic medical care.
Conclusions:
Gender roles as well as cultural and spiritual influences affected coping and access to support in long-term Asian LVAD caregivers. Future interventions should consider culturally relevant approaches to improve well-being and quality of life of caregivers.
Background
Heart failure (HF) is a chronic progressive illness. The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) improves survival and quality of life (QOL) for advanced HF patients. 1 However, a study that reviewed INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support) data showed that outcomes are not uniformly good and that up to one-third of patients could die or have serious medical complications such as bleeding or stroke with significant functional impediment, which can have a significant negative impact on QOL. 2 , 3 Patients often experience a total and dramatic change to their lifestyle, hobbies, and activities of living. These include having to learn how to manage a machine, dealing with daily sterile driveline dressings, and frequent attendance of medical appointments. 4
As living with an LVAD is often too difficult for one person to handle alone, many implanting centers request that the patient must have a suitable caregiver who would be available to assist the patient in these tasks round the clock, and that this caregiver must be committed to care for the patient even before the patient receives the device. 5 While caregivers were shown to be essential for improved health outcomes in LVAD patients, 6 limited studies have suggested that LVAD caregivers often find caregiving stressful and filled with uncertainty and are at risk of poor psychological or physical outcomes.7,8
However, these studies tended to focus mainly on the time of early LVAD implementation. To date, research on the experience, impact, and challenges of long-term LVAD caregivers is largely sparse. 9 It is particularly imperative to understand long-term challenges faced by LVAD caregivers in the Asian health care setting as transplants are not readily available and therefore many LVAD patients have to live long term with an LVAD. 10
Therefore, this study aimed to understand long-term challenges and needs of caregivers of patients living with LVAD in Asian health care setting. By doing so, we seek to develop culturally relevant palliative and supportive interventions to improve long-term caregivers' QOL and well-being The involvement of palliative care in the long-term care of an LVAD patient is recommended in existing guidelines.
Methods
Study setting
This study was conducted in the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS), a national referral center for heart transplantation and ventricular assist device implantation. 11 In NHCS, the LVAD patients are cared for by the Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) team, consisting of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, and clinical coordinators. Since 2009, the new generation continuous flow ventricular assist devices have been available in Singapore. 12 Between 2009 and 2018, 92 patients were implanted with LVAD (65 bridge to transplant [BTT], 26 destination therapy (DT), and 1 bridge to recovery). At the time of this study, 39 patients were still on LVAD support, 28 patients had been transplanted, 2 explanted after recovery, and 23 had died.
Recruitment
We defined long-term support as caring for an LVAD patient for at least 9 months after implantation. 9 We recruited caregivers of patients implanted during the period between May 1, 2009, and March 31, 2018, who are currently or previously living with the LVAD. Bereaved caregivers were excluded.
Caregivers were recruited face to face when their loved ones visited the hospital. We adjusted our recruitment iteratively to ensure that we sampled a diverse range of caregivers in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, patient implantation duration, and strategy. Recruitment was performed by a study team member who was not part of the patient's care team.
Data collection
Information regarding patient LVAD implantation strategy, outcome, and duration of LVAD implantation were collected as well as data on caregiver demographics, the number of hours spent on caregiving per week, and their caregiving roles.
A semistructured interview guide was developed based on the literature 13 , 14 and the study team's research questions. The interview guide was piloted on an LVAD caregiver to test clarity of questions before formal interviews.
Interviews were conducted in a private room in the hospital, in either English or Mandarin. Social workers trained in qualitative research conducted the interviews (Boon Cheng Tan, Eugene Yong Wei Tan, and Genevieve Cheng Sim Wong). Interview time ranged from 1 to 3 hours 18 minutes. All participants gave written informed consent. This study was approved by the SingHealth Centralized Institutional Review Board (Ref. No.: 2018/2013; approved February 20, 2018).
Data analysis
Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and checked for accuracy before coding. For interviews in Mandarin, transcripts were translated into English. Translated transcripts were reviewed against the original language by the members of the coding team (S.H.S.N., J.Y.T.T., J.S.M.K., and L.S., who are bilingual). Each transcript was examined line by line. All passages pertaining to the research question were coded by the coders independently using a constant comparative approach. Responses were open coded resulting in the formation of code categories. Axial coding was done to look at the inter-relationship of categories. Cross-cutting themes and recurrent patterns were examined until thematic saturation was reached. Discrepancies were resolved through consecutive rounds of discussion. The final codes were agreed on by all members of the research team. Data collection, analysis, and theme generation were ongoing and concurrent processes based on grounded theory. 15 We adhered to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research criteria (COREQ). 16
Results
Demographics of participants
A total of eleven caregivers were recruited as we reached data saturation at eleven in-depth interviews. Most (90.9%) caregivers were females and all were spouses and main caregivers. Majority of caregivers (10 out of 11) were looking after patients who were still on LVAD support (half were BTT and half were DT). The median duration of caregiving was 45 months (Table 1).
Characteristics of Caregiver Participants
There was only one recruited caregiver of a transplanted patient. This patient had previously been on LVAD support for 44.8 months.
LVAD, left ventricular assist device; SD, standard deviation.
Long-term challenges
All caregivers described the long-term impact of LVAD on their lives. The implantation of LVAD was almost always viewed as a significant milestone or a “second chance” at life and this caused a complete change in different aspects of their lives. In that respect, looking after a patient living with a LVAD meant having to be a constant “learning journey” over time.
The main themes that permeated caregivers' narratives were encountering multifaceted challenges; expectations and ideals of caregiving; and social resources (Table 2).
Long-Term Challenges and Needs
Encountering multifaceted challenges
Physical
Some caregivers shared that looking after patients whose physical function did not improve after LVAD implantation was challenging. For example, caregivers described that they often had to take on additional physical-related roles on the patient's behalf because patients no longer performed ‘normal’ physical tasks after the implementation of the LVAD. Caregivers recounted that their pre-existing health conditions tended to be exacerbated over time due to chronic lack of rest.
Loss of long-term sexual intimacy or changes to marital life were common challenges for both BTT and DT caregivers. Accounts from participants indicated that the LVAD negatively impacted physical intimacy. “My husband is more old-fashioned. There is no more intimacy because he is afraid” (Caregiver (CG)10,DT). Yet, discussion about sexual issues with partners seemed to be guarded to conform to a culture where female desire is seldom expressed explicitly. Caregivers generally accepted loss of sexual intimacy as part of the LVAD journey.
Financial
Concerns about financial instability played a big part in all the caregivers' narratives. The financial concerns were more salient for BTT caregivers, who, besides caregiving, had to work to help pay the financial debts when the patient might not have been able to sustain long-term employment after the LVAD.
Psychoemotional
Many caregivers shared that they had lost the hobbies and activities that they enjoyed such as the joy of travel after LVAD implantation, which in turn reinforced the feeling that life after LVAD was considerably “restricted.” This is primarily because of the sense that preparing for the logistics of travelling with the LVAD would be overwhelming or the fear that the patient could be left without medical attention if something unfortunate happened overseas.
Chronic sense of anxiety, insecurity, or heightened vigilance was also common among caregivers. There was a persistent thought that the LVAD would malfunction or the patient would suffer complications due to the illness. Caregivers described the stress of having to constantly monitor the patient to ensure that they could respond as soon as possible when there was anything amiss. For caregivers whose loved ones were waiting for a transplant, the feelings of uncertainty when one would get transplant were not easy to bear. Some caregivers also described how past traumatic experiences related to the patient's acute situation created distressing memories, which they never fully recovered from.
The LVAD also presented itself as a persistent and potential source of conflict between the patient and the caregiver over practical tasks such as dressings or over differing opinions regarding accessing health care resources in times of potential crises. Caregivers were often lost and unsure how to manage their own emotions as well as that of patients when these arguments occurred.
Spiritual
Many caregivers described that they turned to their religious faith for support and to make meaning of their caregiving journey. However, some caregivers were hesitant to share information with their spiritual advisors on circumstances surrounding their loved one's LVAD, in respect of the loved one's wish to keep confidential. This was especially evident in culturally traditional Asian families where man is viewed as the breadwinner and head of the household, hence the open sharing of difficulties could be seen as humiliation and loss of pride for the male patient.
Social stigmatization
A lack of understanding within the wider social circles of a LVAD often hurts patients and caregivers, thereby creating a sense of embarrassment and avoidance, especially during gatherings or when the LVAD malfunctioned in public places. “So that's the fear that a caregiver has. He's on LVAD then he wants to come out, it's so scary to come out with him” (CG09, transplanted).
Expectations and ideals of caregiving
Ideals
Both BTT and DT caregivers commonly recounted that at the outset of committing to be a caregiver, they were determined to do their best as a caregiver. They characterized the traits an idealized caregiver embodies as “patient,” “calm,” “accommodating,” and “perseverance.” Caregiving was also described as a duty out of obligation toward a spouse, as per the spiritual and cultural expectations that were inculcated through one's upbringing.
Most participants expressed that they aspired to be an idealized caregiver through constant self-improvement. This means that caregivers would often try to sacrifice and “put the needs of patient and other family members before themselves.” Some mentioned the experience of trying to “put up a front” and keep their own needs to themselves. However, doing so potentially predisposed them to burnout over the long run.
Expectations
Caregivers shared some factors that increased their stress. These included misaligned expectations or prolonged dependency from the patient on the caregiver, for example, if the patient was chronically dependent on the caregiver for long-term care and had been unable to manage independently. “If I go [die] before him, who's going to do the dressing? He has never done it before” (CG 03, BTT).
Social resources
Other challenges that emerged from the interviews included role strain in the family and lack of adequate support from wider community, which often led to an increased sense of isolation and difficulty in coping.
Role strain within the family
Role strain in this study was related to how the caregiving roles were delineated within the family, such as (1) having to be the sole caregiver for the patient, (2) providing care to not just the patient, but other members of their family, or (3) performing other noncaregiving duties in the family on top of caregiving (e.g., providing for financial needs). A general lack of understanding of the LVAD from within the typical nuclear and extended family prevented caregivers from receiving much needed support and hands-on assistance long term.
Lack of understanding from social network and community service organization
Caregivers also shared that limited understanding within their social circles or from community welfare organizations often hampered the support and services that patients and caregivers could receive.
Long-term needs
Caregivers shared some possible areas or methods for which they felt further support would be useful. Themes included shifting perspectives; holistic and sustained care; and support and advocacy.
Shifting perspectives
Role models
Caregivers shared that they would wish for positive role models whom they could learn from, for example, caregivers who have been through the same issues, to give reassurance that one could live a normal life as far as possible over time, despite repeated challenges.
Reframing
Learning how to maintain a positive mindset or making positive meaning out of a challenging situation and adversity was important, as it could enable caregivers to look forward to the future with hope. Oftentimes, this could also take on a spiritual lens where some caregivers tried to make meaning out of a difficult situation by trusting that their challenges could be opportunities given from God for their continued growth.
Holistic and sustained care
Assessment of needs
In terms of support, caregivers also shared their desire that holistic care should not only consider the patients' needs but should also include regular assessments of the caregivers' needs, which was often not the focus of attention during the regular clinic reviews. Caregivers also felt that regular discussions with patients and caregivers about other psychoemotional concerns such as fears about the future should be proactively conducted.
Management of needs
Caregivers desired holistic management of their needs, which involved support beyond the physical problems and other aspects of care for the patient and the caregiver. This included planning for or pre-empting future problems such that caregivers would be able to cope better, should those situations occur.
Support and advocacy
Caregivers also desired that more people in their social circles such as employers as well as the larger society could be aware of the LVAD and its requirements. In addition, caregivers expressed the need for open communication with their spouse and other family members as they felt that it would allow them to ascribe meaning and focus on their caregiving. “Yeah, supporting each other. If …all stress you give to the caregiver, then the caregiver will become mentally also like the same as the sick people when actually we are normal” (CG05, BTT).
Discussion
This study explored long-term challenges and needs of caregivers of patients with LVAD within a context of a multiethnic and multireligious Asian community. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe long-term challenges faced by family caregivers who were involved in care for years after the implementation of LVAD. Our findings suggested that although caregiving challenges may exist at every point along the trajectory of LVAD, long-term caregivers experienced particular challenges that are related to the evolving needs of patients and sociocultural circumstances.
Specifically, this study showed that caregivers' challenges were multifaceted, which resonates with prior literature on caregiving challenges in early/mid phases of LVAD journey. 9 However, what is different from previous literature is that long-term caregivers' concerns were particularly related to that of prolonged caregiving such as the need for balancing ideals and expectations of long-term caregiving, the sacrifice of normalcy, and the constant grappling within limited familial and social resources to cope with their caregiving burdens. Notably, the traditionally Asian cultural values of “family,” “obligation,” and keeping the LVAD circumstance confidential to “respect the male household head” were also important themes that emerged strongly. In addition, accounts from interviews have illustrated that challenges faced by the BTT and DT caregivers were largely similar; yet, compared to DT caregivers, BTT caregivers were relatively younger and some were at the stage in life where they had a concurrent duty to look after other dependents such as young children.
Overall, our study supports the review by Knight and Sayegh 17 in that we provided vivid examples of how gender roles and cultural norms impact upon long-term caregivers' appraisal of caregiving stressors and seeking of support. Findings from this study have also highlighted the underlying role of spirituality in caregiving and how caregivers make meaning and see a purpose in caregiving as a responsibility given by God. These findings suggest that cultural tenet may account for long-term caregiving practices in an Asian setting, and therefore, long-term caregivers' challenges should be understood within the larger context of familial, social, cultural, and spiritual aspects of caregiving.
In terms of needs and support, in our previous work on LVAD patients' unmet needs and challenges, 18 we have shed light on possible interventions. They included (1) having regular assessment of needs and proactive interventions to manage these needs, (2) greater advocacy, and (3) developing a holistic supportive care program to supplement conventional disease-directed care so as to provide an additional layer of support. Likewise, we would suggest that specific interventions be targeted at enhancing caregivers' self-care, improving communication between patients and caregivers, and assisting caregivers in the practical and spiritual aspects of caregiving.
The strengths of our study were that it illuminated the long-term experience of caregiving after an LVAD implantation in a multiethnic and multiracial caregiver sample. Our study highlighted specific cultural nuances about the role, impact, and challenges of long-term caregiving using data derived from rich qualitative interviews. The limitations of this study were that we did not interview other types of caregivers (such as children or siblings), although in the local-regional setting, the predominant type of caregiver is shown to be the spouse caregiver. 19 Since prior studies identified that spouses can be more distressed than other types of caregivers, 20 it may be imperative to elucidate the spouse caregivers' experiences of caregiving. Although we did not interview bereaved caregivers, we believe that bereavement support, which is culturally appropriate, should also be considered part of developing a holistic supportive care program.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our study has highlighted several long-term challenges and needs. We have shown the impact of gender roles and cultural/spiritual influences on caregivers' coping and access to support. Future interventions to improve well-being and QOL of caregivers should consider culturally relevant approaches.
Footnotes
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge all the participants involved in the project for their time spent for the interviews. They also like to acknowledge Ms. Si Min Lim for her time spent with the research team coding the transcripts.
Authors' Contributions
All authors contributed to the conceptualization and design of the study. S.H.S.N. and J.S.M.K. were also involved in the running of the study. All authors contributed to the review and agreed upon the final article for this study.
Funding Information
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Lien Centre for Palliative Care and the Duke-NUS Medical School LCPC-EX-17-0002.
Author Disclosure Statement
No competing financial interests exist.