Emma Vincent and Jane Scullion explore the assessment and management of the burden of chronic disease on close family members
Government policy recognises the need to support caregivers in the community to ease the burden of caring. It encourages primary healthcare workers to explore the specific care needs of informal caregivers as part of the patient’s package of care. Nursing interventions that assess and evaluate carers’ needs can ensure that family caregivers are offered support. This article uses the example of caring for family members with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to examine the burden of caring, its assessment and how nurses can sensitively handle issues raised.
Primary Health Care. 24, 6, 25-27. doi: 10.7748/phc.24.6.25.e894
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 19 February 2014
Accepted: 19 March 2014
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