Ebru Akgun-Citak1, Seda Attepe-Ozden2, Alina Vaskelyte3, Rozemarijn L van Bruchem-Visser4, Saverio Pompili5, Sultan Kav6, Sema Acar7, Emine Aksoydan8, Atahan Altintas9, Aydan Aytar10, Cigdem Baskici11, Aurelija Blazeviciene12, Anita R Scarpa13, Gul Kiziltan14, Francesco U S Mattace-Raso15. 1. Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: citak@baskent.edu.tr. 2. Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: sedaattepe@gmail.com. 3. Department of Nursing and Care, Medical Academy Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: Alina.Vaskelyte@lsmuni.lt. 4. Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: r.l.visser@erasmusmc.nl. 5. Medicine Department, Sapienza University, Roma, Italy. Electronic address: saverio.pompili@uniroma1.it. 6. Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: skav@baskent.edu.tr. 7. Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: semacosmos@hotmail.com. 8. Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: aksoydane@gmail.com. 9. Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: atahana@baskent.edu.tr. 10. Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: aytara@baskent.edu.tr. 11. Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: cigdembaskici@gmail.com. 12. Department of Nursing and Care, Medical Academy Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: aurelija.blazeviviene@lsmuni.lt. 13. Medicine Department, Sapienza University, Roma, Italy. Electronic address: scarpa.anita7@gmail.com. 14. Baskent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: gkizilta@baskent.edu.tr. 15. Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: f.mattaceraso@erasmusmc.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Providing informal care may affects caregivers' life in different ways. Determining the needs of caregivers and supporting them can improve both the quality of life of the caregivers, as well as the elderly they take care of. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences and needs of the informal caregivers in four countries. DESIGN: Qualitative research method was used in the study. METHODS: The qualitative data was collected through focus groups and individual interviews between December 2016-May 2017. In all countries interviews were conducted in the mother language of the informants. Informants of the qualitative research were adult people who take primary care of an individual with chronic diseases, aged 65 years or older. Data were collected from 72 informal caregivers from four European countries. Inductive content analysis was performed. RESULTS: Informal caregivers identified 2 themes, 5 subthemes, 19 categories and 7 subtcategories. The themes highlighted two major issues: informal caregiver's challenges and needs related to the management of care of elderly and caregivers' personal needs. CONCLUSION: The important and charming results of the present study are, difficulties of managing caregiver's own life, and coping with emotions are common in four countries. Identifying challenges and needs of informal caregivers enable healthcare professionals to develop care strategies and plan interventions focused to support and help to reduce the burden of care for elderly with chronic diseases.
BACKGROUND: Providing informal care may affects caregivers' life in different ways. Determining the needs of caregivers and supporting them can improve both the quality of life of the caregivers, as well as the elderly they take care of. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences and needs of the informal caregivers in four countries. DESIGN: Qualitative research method was used in the study. METHODS: The qualitative data was collected through focus groups and individual interviews between December 2016-May 2017. In all countries interviews were conducted in the mother language of the informants. Informants of the qualitative research were adult people who take primary care of an individual with chronic diseases, aged 65 years or older. Data were collected from 72 informal caregivers from four European countries. Inductive content analysis was performed. RESULTS: Informal caregivers identified 2 themes, 5 subthemes, 19 categories and 7 subtcategories. The themes highlighted two major issues: informal caregiver's challenges and needs related to the management of care of elderly and caregivers' personal needs. CONCLUSION: The important and charming results of the present study are, difficulties of managing caregiver's own life, and coping with emotions are common in four countries. Identifying challenges and needs of informal caregivers enable healthcare professionals to develop care strategies and plan interventions focused to support and help to reduce the burden of care for elderly with chronic diseases.
Authors: Ausrine Kontrimiene; Jolanta Sauseriene; Aurelija Blazeviciene; Gediminas Raila; Lina Jaruseviciene Journal: Int J Ment Health Syst Date: 2021-01-20