Nurse Telephone Support for Informal Caregivers of Older Adults: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of informal caregivers receiving nurse telephone support for an older person discharged from hospital and how the nursing support influenced their experiences of caring.

A descriptive qualitative study.

Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants who cared for older adults from two states in Australia between April 2022 and March 2023 for one-on-one interviews 6 months (n = 28) and 12 months (n = 24) after patient discharge from hospital. Inductive directional content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data.

Three themes were identified: (1) Caregiving elicited a complex mix of emotions; (2) nursing support improved caregivers' preparedness to care over time and (3) caregivers welcomed emotional and practical support as they took on new responsibilities. They reflected that nurse telephone support offered emotional and practical support, helping caregivers feel more confident and less stressed in the caregiving role.

The study highlighted the value of proactive nurse-led programs to support informal caregivers after patient discharge from hospital, improving their experience. Providing ongoing support after discharge via telephone communication can play a critical role in caregiver wellbeing and facilitate the sustainability of their caregiving responsibilities in the home.

Study design and conduct are reported in line with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ) guidelines.

The research team includes a consumer investigator (H.L.) who has provided feedback and input at all stages of the research, including grant application, project design, data analysis and manuscript review.

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry identifier (ANZCTR): 12620000060943.