Table 6 Qualitative analysis of free-text answers from family caregivers on ‘particularly well’ and ‘inadequately’ solved problems

Physical problems

24 (61.5)

16 (64.0)

Pain

18 (46.2)

´Tumor pain well controlled’, ´Pain management´

2 (8.0)

´Pain´,´Pain management´

Dyspnea

2 (5.1)

´Shortness of breath´

1 (4.0)

´Shortness of breath´

Gastrointestinal symptoms

3 (7.7)

´Nausea´, ´Stomach cramps´

7 (28.0)

´Nausea could only be relieved a little´, ´Nausea, vomiting, constipation´

Agitation/restlessness

1 (4.0)

´His getting up at nights, out of the bed and jiggling everything […]!´

Dry mouth

3 (12.0)

´Dry mouth and lips´, ´Dry mouth´

Other physical issues

3 (7.7)

´Cough´

3 (12.0)

´Walking alone – showering´, ´Open back´

Psychosocial problems

11 (28.2)

3 (12.0)

Psychosocial care and emotional comfort

7 (17.9)

´Caregiving was mindful and respectful´, ´Personal attention was always available´

1 (4.0)

´Emotional support, he was very unsettled by permanently changing palliative staff in the team.´

Anxiety

2 (5.1)

´Anxiety´, ´Addressing the patient’s fear that the family would have to take care of everything´

Coping with the disease

3 (7.7)

´Clarify questions in peace´, ´Any personal questions regarding the disease´

Autonomy/self-determination, wishes

2 (8.0)

´Ending her suffering. Her wish to die, as active euthanasia is not yet legal´

Care-related problems

7 (17.9)

4 (16.0)

Dying at home or at the desired place of death

3 (7.7)

´That the patient was discharged home to his familiar environment´, ´That he was allowed home from the hospital at the end´

1 (4.0)

´No coming back to home [for dying]´

General care issues

4 (10.3)

´Medical care´, ´The medication scheduling´

3 (12.0)

´The patient could have been checked more often´, ´Physician visits much too late´

Family caregiver-related problems

3 (12.0)

Family caregiver care and counselling

3 (12.0)

´Presence of us (confidants) when he died. We had been promised that we would be called when the time came. It was foreseeable on the morning of the day he died, but we were not informed until after his death.´