Title: Determining the effect of group flower arranging sessions on caregiver self-efficacy and stress levels in an in-patient hospice

Abstract

This study was designed to promote enhanced self-efficacy and decreased stress levels for family caregivers at a hospice care hospital, thus increasing their quality of life. This is achieved through group flower arranging sessions. Flowers evoke many responses including love, caring, and beauty. Human reactions to flowers involve smell, texture and color which provide an aesthetic attraction. Family and friends often become the informal caregivers to terminally ill spouses, siblings, and others. They support and supplant the role of professionals resulting in personal stress and compassion fatigue. The objectives are to 1) Enhance self-efficacy scores for family caregivers of Calvary patients. 2) Decrease stress levels for family caregivers of Calvary patients and 3) Disseminate results to other hospices. 71 caregivers were recruited to the study. Their family members or friends became terminally ill and were receiving care in the Calvary Hospital. Results show the flower arranging sessions resulted in significant increased self-efficacy and decreased stress and associated problems for the caregiver participants. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. Family member feedback consistently supported that the program was relaxing, healing, comforting therapeutic, and educational. Family members reported that they loved to be able to bring the flowers back to their loved ones at times brightening the patients’ moods and at other times simply brightening the room itself. This type of program allowed family members the opportunity to actively do something for their loved ones while simultaneously taking time for themselves to engage in a stress-reducing activity.