{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,27]],"date-time":"2026-08-27T06:17:46Z","timestamp":1787811466958,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":63,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,25]],"date-time":"2026-08-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787616000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":24,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]],"date-time":"2026-08-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785542400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Nursing Open"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To explore how family caregivers interpret palliative care and respond to admission to a palliative care unit as a critical transition in care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A qualitative descriptive study using thematic content analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Semi\u2010structured interviews were conducted with 12 caregivers of patients with advanced cancer admitted to an inpatient palliative care unit between July and December 2024. Interviews were performed within 24\u201372\u2009h of admission to capture early interpretations of referral. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis through coding, categorization, and theme development. Reflexive practice, supervisory review, and an audit trail supported rigour.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Admission was experienced as a critical transition. Three interrelated themes were identified: understanding of palliative care, expectations regarding care, and emotional responses. Participants described partial familiarity with palliative care but frequently associated referral with terminal illness. Expectations focused on comfort and clear communication. Emotional responses included fear, uncertainty, and ambivalence, particularly when referral occurred abruptly.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Admission to a palliative care unit represents a significant transition during which caregivers reconstruct meanings, adjust expectations, and respond emotionally to changes in care. Structured communication at admission may facilitate caregiver adaptation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Implications for the Profession and\/or Patient Care<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Recognizing admission as a transitional process highlights the need for early communication, expectation\u2010setting, and emotional support for caregivers.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Impact<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Limited understanding exists regarding how caregivers interpret admission to inpatient palliative care during transitions. Admission was experienced as a transition involving meaning\u2010making, expectation formation, and emotional adjustment. Findings may inform nursing practice in inpatient palliative care by supporting caregiver\u2010centered transition support.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Reporting Method<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Patient or Public Contribution<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/nop2.70618","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,25]],"date-time":"2026-08-25T08:02:58Z","timestamp":1787644978000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Family Caregivers' Understanding, Expectations, and Emotional Responses During Transition to a Palliative Care Unit: A Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-3172-7185","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Filipa","family":"Vieira\u2010Matos","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Bento Menni Palliative Care Unit, Idanha Health Center  Belas Sintra Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4665-585X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paulo","family":"Reis\u2010Pina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Center for Palliative Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz  Lisbon Portugal"},{"name":"Acute Palliative Care Inpatient Unit, Santa Maria Local Health Unit  Lisbon Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_13_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1200\/JCO.19.00018"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3332\/ecancer.2022.1377"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/082585979601200102"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904\u2010022\u201000920\u20109"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers15143656"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_7_1","volume-title":"Content Analysis","author":"Bardin L.","year":"2011"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare12100957"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4415\/ANN_11_03_03"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.15537\/smj.2020.5.25062"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/onco.13974"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pec.2020.01.017"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pec.2018.08.005"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpainsymman.2019.07.030"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0269216319888371"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0269216317697898"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S1478951519000154"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0294807"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17134630"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen\u20102023\u2010075691"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.1071711"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5603\/pmp.109733"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/26323524211017546"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11606\u2010020\u201005730\u20104"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1200\/OP.21.00088"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1049909119895497"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/jpm.2020.0111"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/02692163211043371"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1053\/j.seminhematol.2023.07.002"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_30_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365\u20102648.2006.03899.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare10122489"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2022.816023"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0825859720984564"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904\u2010021\u201000808\u20100"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1049909112445305"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/hex.14002"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1472\u2010684X\u201012\u201034"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904\u2010021\u201000730\u20105"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00012272\u2010200009000\u201000006"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_40_1","volume-title":"[Knowledge About Palliative Care: Opinions of a Sample of the Portuguese Population]. Master's Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology","author":"Mendes E. S. R. N.","year":"2012"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0269216320968741"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.21037\/apm\u201022\u2010146"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpainsymman.2020.12.019"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000000388"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1158\/1055\u20109965.EPI\u201020\u20101790"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_46_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/ppc.12479"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0193945911400920"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1547\u20105069.1994.tb00929.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_49_1","volume-title":"PPS PT \u2010 Escala de Avalia\u00e7\u00e3o do Desempenho do Doente em Cuidados Paliativos","author":"Sereno S.","year":"2022"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_50_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904\u2010020\u201000688\u2010w"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_51_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1049909117715215"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_52_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/pon.5824"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_53_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0219074"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_54_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904\u2010025\u201001891\u20103"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_55_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/10499091231163156"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_56_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904\u2010023\u201001266\u20106"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_57_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/eurpub\/ckv039"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_58_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0885\u20103924(02)00407\u20104"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_59_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen\u20102021\u2010058531"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_60_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1403494817751329"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_61_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization. n.d.\u201cPalliative Care. Key Facts (5 August 2020).\u201dAccessed March 26 2026.https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\u2010room\/fact\u2010sheets\/detail\/palliative\u2010care."},{"key":"e_1_2_13_62_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904\u2010024\u201001559\u20104"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_63_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/26323524231196311"},{"key":"e_1_2_13_64_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpainsymman.2019.05.008"}],"container-title":["Nursing Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/nop2.70618","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1002\/nop2.70618","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/nop2.70618","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,27]],"date-time":"2026-08-27T05:30:21Z","timestamp":1787808621000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/nop2.70618"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]},"references-count":63,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/nop2.70618"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/nop2.70618","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["2054-1058","2054-1058"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2054-1058","type":"print"},{"value":"2054-1058","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2026-04-05","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-05-15","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-08-25","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e70618"}}