Table 2 Phase 1 topics and questions in the semi-structured guide
1. Demographic information | a) Age |
b) Employment status – current, previous, reasons for stopping work, how long ago stopped work | |
c) Relationship with person currently caring for | |
d) Any previous caring roles | |
2. Perception of carers | a) Would you describe yourself as a carer? |
b) If not, how do you see your role as being different to that of a carer? | |
3. Current caring role | a) How long have you looked after ………….? |
b) Can you describe some of the things that you do for…? (physical, social, psychological) | |
c) Looking back at the time you have been caring for …., have you seen a change in how you care for ….? | |
(Changes, increases in care required) | |
d) Have there been any occasions when you have found caring to be challenging? (examples & context) | |
e) Looking back on the …. months that you have been caring for …., what were the most challenging things youhave had to deal with, and why? | |
f) Is it difficult to say that there have been problems or challenges? Or to ask for help? | |
g) What helps you to cope with the challenges? (what helps most, least) | |
h) Is there anything positive that has come out of your caring role with ….? | |
4. Support and assessments | a) What support or help have you received whilst caring for …? |
b) Is there any help or support you feel you might have benefited from but did not receive? | |
c) Have you had any assessments since you started caring for ….? | |
d) Did those assessments result in any additional support? | |
e) Do you think regular assessment of carers needs would be helpful? | |
f) Are there any areas in particular that you feel should be assessed? | |
g) How would you feel being asked about your needs on a regular basis by someone who comes into your homeregularly, such as a district nurse? (Any other professional you would prefer?) | |
5. Open ended question | Is there anything else you’d like to add to what you’ve said today? |