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Table 2 Variable domains 2–5. Sample characteristics and analysis of the individual variables in Domain 2–5 in relation to the family members’ sense of support within the closest family (dependent variable) Sample characteristics of patients (of the interviewed family members; n = 209) and analysis of the individual variables in relation to the family members’ sense of support within the closest family (dependent variable)

From: Sense of support within the family: a cross-sectional study of family members in palliative home care

Variable domain

(relating subsystem or suprasystem)

Variable

(range of response alternatives/index)

%

responses

Description

(mean [SD]; range) or percent

Wald valuesa for individual variable

Relation-ship

II. Patient characteristics

(SUBSYSTEM: Family member -Closest family)

Patient demographics

Patient’s age (in years)

94

68.5 [13.77]; (20–94)

0.53

 

Patient’s gender: male/ female

94

39%/ 55%

1.29

 

Patient native born in Sweden

99

88%

0.30

 

Patient’s living conditions

Alone

98

27%

2.07

 

With wife/husband/co-habitant

98

65%

0.04

 

With child

98

5%

4.40

neg

With other

98

8%

3.44

 

Geographical distance between housing of patient and family member

99

 

0.44

 

Same household/ 5–60 min distance/More than 1 h

 

62%/ 30%/ 6%

  

Patient illness

Patient having difficulties with memory (1 (never) – 5 (very often)

99

2.16 [1.27]; (1–5)

0.48

 

Patient having changed behaviour (1 (never) - 5 (very often))

99

2.39 [1.18];(1–5)

5.09

neg

Malignant diagnoses

Gastro-intestinal

94

30

0.02

 

Respiratory

94

11%

2.85

 

Breast

94

11%

0.29

 

Gynaecological

94

6%

0.21

 

Urological

94

13%

0.19

 

Haematological

94

6%

1.69

 

Other malignancies

94

10%

0.72

 

Non-malignant diagnosesb

94

7%

0.18

 

Time since diagnosis (in months)

99

35.0 [44.89];1–240)

0.03

 

III. Other more distant family members’ support to the interviewed family member

(SUBSYSTEM: Family member - Other more distant family member) s

Support to family member from other family members than the closest family (1 (never) - 6 (always))

98

4.68 [1.16];(2–6)

50.24

pos

IV. Other family members’ support to patient

(SUBSYSTEM: Patient – Other family members (than the interviewed family member)

Support to patient from other family members, relatives or friends (1 (never) - 6 (always))

97

4.57 [1.25];(1–6)

43.97

pos

V. Sense of security in palliative home care

(SUPRASYSTEM: Family member - Palliative home care unit)

The family members’ sense of security with palliative care: Care interaction subscale (SEC-Rc; 1 (never) - 6 (always))

99

5.12 [0.70];(1–6)

4.55

pos

Mastery subscale (SEC-R; 1 (never) - 6 (always))

100

4.20 [0.96];(1.6)

8.42

pos

Patient situation subscale (SEC-R; 1 (never) - 6 (always))

100

4.82 [0.76];(1–6)

21.17

pos

Time from commencement of palliative home care to the interview with the family member (days)

93

187 [377.7];(11–4256)

1.72

 
  1. aWald =4 is approximately equivalent with p = 0.05; Wald = 6 is approximately equivalent with p = 0.01
  2. bNeurological disease (n = 9), heart- or lung disease (n = 4), and other (n = 2)
  3. cSEC-R, The sense of security in care-Relatives’ Evaluation instrument; ECR-M16, Experiences in Close Relationships scale