Intervention development for enhanced lay palliative caregiver support - the use of focus groups

Caring for a family member or friend dying of cancer can be extremely stressful. Past research identified that lay caregivers frequently report unmet needs related to guidance and support to assist them to provide care. This study sought to extend prior needs-based research towards the development of a new nursing intervention focused on the guidance and support provided to persons caring for a relative or friend dying of cancer. Focus groups were conducted with current lay caregivers, bereaved lay caregivers and palliative care nurses. The findings endorsed the applicability of previous caregiver need research to the Australian context. Participants revealed that caregivers were commonly unprepared for their role and desired much more guidance and support from health professionals. Importantly, the research provided the essential ingredients for the future development of a new intervention aimed at augmenting home lay palliative caregiver guidance and support.