Background: Carers are central to the adjustment process of cancer patients, yet the demands on them are significant. The Carer Needs Scoping Project, undertaken by the Cancer Social Work Team (CSWT) in 2009, provided six recommendations to enhance carer well being. Two recommendations were identified to progress further.
Aim: To develop a carer information pack & psycho-education session for carers of cancer patients at St Vincent’s.
Methods: Following a review of current literature, carer resources were benchmarked from cancer and carer organisations along with a consumer survey & consultation with the CSWT to inform the content & structure of the information pack & session.
Results: Consumers (n=9) & CSWT (n= 6) agreed carers needed targeted information to perform their role & identified clear components required for the information packs. Versions of the packs were developed & reviewed with changes being made at each point. The psycho-education session was linked to the pack using the same feedback obtained from the literature and clinician/consumer feedback.
Conclusions: The final pack offers a unique, targeted source of support for carers in the cancer setting that will be provided by the CSWT to carers. The psycho-education session will be used as part of the standard support offered by the Cancer Centre.
Relevance/significance to the field: This translation of research responds to the need for targeted interventions for carers of cancer patients in their own right.