Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine what family carers of persons with stroke impairment
perceive as important support and service quality characteristics in relation to
their experienced strain/burden, and to explore to what extent family carers
receive support/services perceived as important. DESIGN: Data from a
cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: A sample of 183 family carers in Sweden, 64
experiencing lower and 119 experiencing higher strain/burden, a subsample of the
EUROFAMCARE project. METHODS: Carers were interviewed using a structured
questionnaire. RESULTS: There are few differences between carers experiencing
high and low strain/burden in what they perceive and receive in terms of
important support and service quality characteristics. Information, relief, and
counselling support/services are highly valued. It is also important that
services improve quality of life, and have good process qualities regarding
interaction with staff and individualization. Most services regarded as important
are received by less than 60% of carers. CONCLUSION: The variation is rather high
on an individual level in terms of what carers regard as important, indicating
that factors other than negative impact may influence their perceptions of
support/service and service quality. Thus, it is important to know carers'
perceptions in order to individualize support/service, and thus make it more
available and efficient.

Langue : ANGLAIS