Family Members’ Psychosocial Support in Palliative Inpatient Care: A Cross-Sectional Study




Soikkeli-Jalonen, Anu; Mishina, Kaisa; Saarinen-Nassar, Johanna; Kesonen, Pauliina; Virtanen, Heli; Karukivi, Max; Haavisto, Elina

PublisherSAGE Publications

2025

Journal of Family Nursing

10748407251357063

1074-8407

1552-549X

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1177/10748407251357063

https://doi.org/10.1177/10748407251357063

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/500101523



To evaluate the family members’ psychosocial support during specialist palliative inpatient care. Cross-sectional study. The “Family Involvement Scale–Psychosocial Support in Palliative Inpatient Care” (FIS-PS-InPal) questionnaire was used to collect data from family members from specialized palliative care wards across Finland. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. In total, 171 family members from 16 wards across Finland participated in the study. Family members evaluated the support they received as close to ideal, with 19.9% of participants reporting that the support was less than desired. They rated psycho-emotional support and support practices as the strongest and informational support as the weakest. The psychosocial support that family members receive in specialist palliative care is generally adequate. However, efforts should be made to improve how information is communicated. The study underscores the importance of evaluating and addressing the unique support implementation for families in palliative care.


The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Research was funded by The Cancer Association of Pirkanmaa (Finland), and State funding for university-level health research, Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing services county of Pirkanmaa, Eemil Aaltonen foundation.


Last updated on 2025-10-10 at 13:58