Double-Duty Caregivers' Satisfaction With Health Care Provider Communication.

Abstract

Background: Double-duty caregivers are health care professionals caring for family members or friends outside the workplace. While they may communicate frequently with colleagues in their professional role, little is known about communication with health care providers in the caregiving role.

Objective: To measure double-duty caregiver satisfaction when communicating with health care providers and to identify correlates and predictors of satisfaction.

Methods: A cross-sectional, nonexperimental, correlational study was used. Participants included registered nurses who were current or former caregivers of a family member or friend aged 50 or older. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between double-duty caregivers' personal and professional attributes, factors, and satisfaction with communication.

Results: Double-duty caregivers reported above-average satisfaction with communication. Personal beliefs about caring and trust had the highest influence on satisfaction. Stress was associated with lower satisfaction with communication.

Discussion: This study is the first to examine double-duty caregiver satisfaction when communicating with health care providers and associated factors. Health care providers must implement strategies to maximize their acknowledgment of personal beliefs about caring and foster the building of trusting relationships to support colleagues in this role.