Palliative
Medicine; 2018, 32 (5), 950-959
Thomas,
Carol; Turner, Mary; Payne, Sheila; et al
The aim of this qualitative cross-sectional observational study was to illustrate the relevance of
'relevant background worries' in family carers' accounts of caring at home for
a dying adult. Four case studies are presented where the worries
constituted psychosocial factors that impacted on caregivers' actions and
emotional well-being. Two themes are discussed: (1) whether relevant background
worries are important enough to be identified and responded to and (2) how such
worries could be picked up and managed by professionals. It is
argued that the quality of clinical practice could be improved if specialist
palliative care teams in community contexts both identified and responded to
significant support needs associated with family carers' relevant background
worries.