Â鶹ֱ²¥ research has highlighted the importance of supporting family carers to identify their personal requirements in end-of-life care.<\/p>\n
Professor Samar Aoun from Curtin\u2019s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine said family caregiving towards the end-of-life entails considerable emotional, social, financial and physical costs for carers, and evidence suggests that good support can improve carer psychological outcomes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the primary focus of palliative-care service is on the patient, a family carer\u2019s assessment of support needs is often informal and undocumented,\u201d Professor Aoun said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamily carers are also often reluctant to express their own needs and unlikely to feel these are legitimate. This means their support needs are less \u2018visible\u2019 and can see them missing out on much needed support.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to this gap, Curtin worked to evaluate the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) which was developed to encompass the physical, psychological, social, practical, financial and spiritual support needs that should be assessed and addressed for family carers of terminally ill people.<\/p>\n
The study investigated the impact of using the CSNAT to identify and address support needs in end-of-life home environment, on family carer outcomes.<\/p>\n
The CSNAT is designed to be a carer-led assessment tool that is facilitated by the nurse rather than being led by the nurse.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was evident in this trial that those who received the CSNAT intervention had a significant reduction in carer strain while looking after their loved ones compared to those who did not receive the intervention,\u201d Professor Aoun said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn total, 322 family carers participated in the trial, in intervention or control groups.\u00a0 At the end of the study, the intervention group (233 participants) provided feedback to the research nurse about using the CSNAT and described feelings of validation, reassurance and empowerment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIssues identified as priorities included, what to expect in the future, having time for yourself in the day, and dealing with your feelings and worries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe CSNAT approach provided family carers the opportunity to ask for help and therefore legitimise their own support needs as separate from those of the patients.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CSNAT intervention was carried out in collaboration with the Silver Chain Hospice Care Service in Western Australia.<\/p>\n
Results of the study were published in Palliative Medicine and PLos One and are available upon request.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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