Aug 28, 2020
This episode features Kerry Micklewright and Dr Morag
Farquhar (School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia,
Norwich, UK).
Informal carers play a vital role in supporting patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD carers may have
unidentified support needs that could be a target
for intervention by clinicians. The Carer Support Needs
Assessment Tool (CSNAT) is an evidence-based tool to enable
identification of carer support needs. Initially developed mainly
with carers of patients with end-stage cancer, it is unclear
if it encompasses all the potential support needs of COPD
carers.
Knowledge relating to COPD carer support needs from published
literature was synthesised, including needs carers felt were met,
needs carers felt were unmet and supportive inputs
carers considered helpful. The identified support needs were
then mapped to the CSNAT, and this exercise suggested that the
addition of a question encompassing relationship management issues
may be required to make CSNAT more comprehensive for COPD
carers.
Many of the support needs of COPD carers are unmet: particular
areas of concern relate to prolonged social isolation, accessing
services, emotional support and information needs. COPD carers
would benefit from a comprehensive, person-centred assessment of
their needs and appropriate response to these needs by clinicians.
The CSNAT is a promising approach to identifying COPD carer
support needs, though it may require an additional question on
relationship management to ensure it fully encompasses the
potential needs of this group.