Association between illness presentation and self-efficacy among older End of Life Caregivers with multiple chronic illnesses

Dr Hyeyoung Park along with co-investigator Dr Joohyun Chung have received funds from the Beta Zeta-at-Large Chapter of the Sigma International Honor Society of Nursing to assist with a study looking into the self-management of multiple chronic conditions among older end-of-life caregivers. This study will investigate the representation of chronic illnesses by older end-of-life caregivers, and will examine the relationship between care-recipient’s symptom severity, end-of-life caregiving strains on caregiver’s illness representation, and self-efficacy as directed by the Bandura’s social learning theory. The researchers hypothesize that older end-of-life caregivers’ caregiving strain and care recipient's symptoms will be associated with how caregivers view their own chronic illnesses and with the caregiver’s self-efficacy in managing their own chronic illnesses.