Long-term management of cirrhosis. Appropriate supportive care is both critical and difficult

The Clinical Utility of the Stress Process Model in Family Caregivers of Liver Transplant Candidates

This article describes the important relationship between theory and practice and demonstrates the application of Pearlin and colleagues' Stress Process Model to family caregivers of liver transplant candidates. Theory enhances the use of specific nursing interventions. This connection of theory to practice is especially important in the current health care environment, where the nursing shortage demands efficient and effective patient care. The Stress Process Model is a specific and concrete middle-range theory, which makes it simple to apply in clinical practice and research. This model is particularly useful for nurses who support the family caregivers of clients on the liver transplant list. The model identifies characteristics that predispose caregivers to stress that can interfere with completion of caregiving roles and tasks before and after patients' liver transplantation.

Predictors of mental health, subjective burden, and rewards in family caregivers of patients with chronic liver disease

Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) often experience severe symptoms that cause functional impairment and necessitate assistance from a family caregiver. Few studies investigate family caregivers of patients with CLD. This descriptive correlation study described demographic characteristics, depressive and anxiety symptom levels, and prevalence of hazardous drinking, rewards, and subjective burden and explicated predictors of subjective burden and mental health status for a convenience sample of 73 family caregivers of persons with CLD. Interventions are needed to offset decreased income reported by caregivers and to treat depressive symptoms; clinically significant levels were present, and clinical referrals were warranted in this study sample.

The clinical utility of the Stress Process Model in family caregivers of liver transplant candidates

This article describes the important relationship between theory and practice and demonstrates the application of Pearlin and colleagues' Stress Process Model to family caregivers of liver transplant candidates. Theory enhances the use of specific nursing interventions. This connection of theory to practice is especially important in the current health care environment, where the nursing shortage demands efficient and effective patient care. The Stress Process Model is a specific and concrete middle-range theory, which makes it simple to apply in clinical practice and research. This model is particularly useful for nurses who support the family caregivers of clients on the liver transplant list. The model identifies characteristics that predispose caregivers to stress that can interfere with completion of caregiving roles and tasks before and after patients' liver transplantation.