Research and Theory for Nursing Practice: An International Journal, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2011
A Process of Decision Making by Caregivers of Family
Members With Heart Failure
Julie Sanford, DNS, RN
University of South Alabama, Mobile
Judith Townsend-Rocchicciolli, PhD, RN
James Madison University, Virginia
Annie Horigan, MSN, RN
Duke University, North Carolina
Pat Hall, PhD, CRNP
Diagnostic Medical Clinic, Mobile, Alabama
Heart failure (HF) is a major cardiovascular problem and the number of people living with HF continues to
climb. Throughout the illness continuum, patients and their family caregivers are involved in decision making.
As the illness worsens and patients can no longer make decisions, decision making becomes the responsibility
of their caregivers who may have little preparation for the role. The purpose of this grounded theory study was
to examine how caregivers of family members with HF make decisions. A nonlinear decision-making process
consisting of several actions was identified, which included actualizing; seeking input, information, or support;
reflecting; choosing; evaluating; and validating the decision.
Keywords:decision making; heart failure; caregiving; grounded theory
H
eart failure (HF), a complex cardiovascular syndrome, is increasing in inci-dence throughout the
, world. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that cardiovascular disease accounted
for more than 16.7 million
deaths (29.2%) of all deaths worldwide with 7.2 million of these deaths attributed to ischemic heart disease.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), almost
© 2011 Springer Publishing Company 55
DOI: 10.1891/0889-7182.25.1.55
,
A Process of Decision Making by Caregivers of Family
Members With Heart Failure
Julie Sanford, DNS, RN
University of South Alabama, Mobile
Judith Townsend-Rocchicciolli, PhD, RN
James Madison University, Virginia
Annie Horigan, MSN, RN
Duke University, North Carolina
Pat Hall, PhD, CRNP
Diagnostic Medical Clinic, Mobile, Alabama
Heart failure (HF) is a major cardiovascular problem and the number of people living with HF continues to
climb. Throughout the illness continuum, patients and their family caregivers are involved in decision making.
As the illness worsens and patients can no longer make decisions, decision making becomes the responsibility
of their caregivers who may have little preparation for the role. The purpose of this grounded theory study was
to examine how caregivers of family members with HF make decisions. A nonlinear decision-making process
consisting of several actions was identified, which included actualizing; seeking input, information, or support;
reflecting; choosing; evaluating; and validating the decision.
Keywords:decision making; heart failure; caregiving; grounded theory
H
eart failure (HF), a complex cardiovascular syndrome, is increasing in inci-dence throughout the
, world. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that cardiovascular disease accounted
for more than 16.7 million
deaths (29.2%) of all deaths worldwide with 7.2 million of these deaths attributed to ischemic heart disease.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), almost
© 2011 Springer Publishing Company 55
DOI: 10.1891/0889-7182.25.1.55
,
