Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences, St George's University of London and Kingston University, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
BMC Fam Pract. 2011 Jun 23;12:57. doi: 10.1186/1471-2296-12-57.
Informal carers frequently suffer adverse consequences from caring. General practice teams are well positioned to support them. However, what carers of stroke survivors want and expect from general practice, and the practical support measures they might like, remain largely unexplored.The aims of this study are twofold. Firstly it explores both the support stroke carers would like from general practice and their reactions to the community based support proposed in the New Deal. Secondly, perceptions of a general practice team are investigated covering similar topics to carer interviews but from their perspective.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 stroke carers and 10 members of a general practice team. Carers' experiences and expectations of general practice and opinions of support measures from recent government policy were explored. General practice professionals were asked about their perceived role and their perceptions of carers' support needs. Interviews were content analysed.
Carers' expectations of support from general practice were low and they neither received nor expected much support for themselves. General practice was seen as reactive primarily because of time constraints. Some carers would appreciate emotional support but others did not want additional services. Responses to recent policy initiatives were mixed with carers saying these might benefit other carers but not themselves.General practice professionals' opinions were broadly similar. They recognise carers' support needs but see their role as reactive, focussed on stroke survivors, rather than carers. Caring was recognised as challenging. Providing emotional support and referral were seen as important but identification of carers was considered difficult. Time constraints limit their support. Responses to recent policy initiatives were positive.
Carers' expectations of support from general practice for themselves are low and teams are seen as reactive and time constrained. Both the carers and the general practice team participants emphasised the valuable role of general practice team in supporting stroke survivors. Research is needed to determine general practice teams' awareness and identification of carers and of the difficulties they encounter supporting stroke carers. Carer policy initiatives need greater specificity with greater attention to diversity in carer needs.
非正式护理人员在护理过程中经常会遭受不利后果。全科医疗团队非常适合为他们提供支持。然而，中风幸存者的护理人员希望从全科医疗中得到什么，以及他们希望得到什么样的实际支持措施，在很大程度上仍未得到探索。本研究的目的有两个。首先，它探讨了中风护理人员希望从全科医疗中得到的支持，以及他们对新协议中提出的基于社区的支持的反应。其次，从护理人员的角度调查了全科医疗团队对类似主题的看法。
对 13 名中风护理人员和 10 名全科医疗团队成员进行了半结构化访谈。探讨了护理人员对全科医疗的经验和期望，以及对最近政府政策中支持措施的看法。全科医疗专业人员被问及他们对自己角色的看法以及对护理人员支持需求的看法。对访谈进行了内容分析。
护理人员对全科医疗的支持期望较低，他们既没有得到也没有期望得到太多的支持。全科医疗主要被认为是被动的，主要是因为时间限制。一些护理人员会欣赏情感支持，但也有一些护理人员不希望得到额外的服务。对最近政策举措的反应不一，护理人员表示这些举措可能对其他护理人员有益，但对自己无益。全科医疗专业人员的意见大致相似。他们认识到护理人员的支持需求，但认为自己的角色是被动的，专注于中风幸存者，而不是护理人员。护理工作被认为具有挑战性。提供情感支持和转介被认为很重要，但识别护理人员被认为很困难。时间限制限制了他们的支持。对最近政策举措的反应是积极的。
护理人员对全科医疗为自己提供支持的期望较低，且团队被视为被动且时间受限。护理人员和全科医疗团队的参与者都强调了全科医疗团队在支持中风幸存者方面的宝贵作用。需要研究以确定全科医疗团队对护理人员及其支持中风护理人员时遇到的困难的认识和识别。护理人员政策举措需要更加具体，更加关注护理人员需求的多样性。
