Family Caregivers’ Experiences and Education When Caring for Individuals after Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract Aims To capture narratives regarding the experience of caring for an individual who has undergone total hip or knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). Methods Semi-structured interviews with 15 family caregivers, were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Three themes were identified: 1) The highs and lows – Family caregivers had both challenging and rewarding experiences; 2) Family relationships – relationships between the caregivers and their family members were often impacted as a result of caregiving; 3) Inconsistent education – Participants discussed accessing a wide range of educational resources. A lack of caregiver-directed education was emphasized. Conclusions This study highlights that family caregivers have positive experiences and a perceived familial responsibility to provide care. There are currently unmet educational needs for caregivers. More research is needed to expand the understanding of this population and on implementing caregiver-directed education. IMPACTS AND IMPLICATIONS Health care providers need to recognize that even though the THA/TKA family caregiving role may be temporary, the challenges and burden they experience are substantial. An individualized approach, which considers family caregivers’ prior experience/knowledge, and access to information, is necessary when providing pre/postoperative education. Education directly targeting the needs of family caregivers should be implemented to improve the caregiving experience and to ensure quality patient care.