Interdisciplinary intervention plan on the informal caregiver - a mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Social Work

Background:

• The Interdisciplinary Intervention Plan (IIP) assesses informal caregiver (IC) needs to improve quality of life for both caregivers and care recipients.
• The study evaluates the IIP's implementation process and content validity.

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze healthcare professionals' perceptions of the IIP.
• Assess user agreement on the IIP's items and domains.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was used, including focus group content analysis and quantitative measures (Content Validity Index, modified k).
• The IIP comprises two parts: characterization of the IC and care recipient, followed by 49 items across 6 domains.
• Implementation involved an interdisciplinary team in the Azores, integrating health and social professionals.

Main Results:

• Content analysis revealed themes of 'Need for logistical support' and 'Reinforced interdisciplinarity' in the IIP implementation process.
• Professionals rated most items as 'Excellent' for relevance (91.8%) and formulation (95.9%), indicating comprehensibility.
• Specific items related to 'Information and Communication Technologies' and 'Accessibility' were rated lower for relevance.

Conclusions:

• The Interdisciplinary Intervention Plan (IIP) is validated as a tool for home care professionals.
• Necessary modifications will be made based on study findings to enhance the IIP's utility.
• The IIP aims to provide a comprehensive resource for supporting informal caregivers in the home care setting.