Article
“It’s Like We’re Grasping at Anything” Caregivers’ Education Needs and Preferred Learning Methods
Qualitative Health Research
(2012)
Abstract
In this qualitative descriptive study, we explored caregivers’ educational needs and preferred methods of information delivery. Descriptions are based on five focus groups (N = 29) conducted with ethnically diverse, current and past family caregivers, including those who had previously attended a structured educational program. Themes arose from verbatim data transcriptions and coded themes. Four categories of educational needs were identified: (a) respite, (b) caregiving essentials, (c) self-care, and (d) the emotional aspects of caregiving. Advantages and disadvantages of learning methods are discussed, along with reasons for and outcomes of attending caregiver workshops. An informed caregiver model is proposed. Health care providers must assess educational needs and strive to provide appropriate information as dictated by the care recipient’s condition and caregiver’s expressed desires. Innovative methods of delivering information that are congruent with different caregiving circumstances and learning preferences must be developed and tested.
Keywords
- caregivers,
- focus groups,
- older people,
- qualitative analysis
Disciplines
Publication Date
2012
DOI
10.1177/1049732312443739
Publisher Statement
Published in Qualitative Health Research
Citation Information
Mastel-Smith, B., & Hermanns, M. L. (2012). Its like were grasping at anything caregivers education needs and preferred methods of learning. Qualitative Health Research, 7(22), 1007–1015.