The evidence
The program was evaluated using a pre-test and post-test design, that is, information on carers was collected before they attended the session and again three days after the session. The information collected included the carer’s level of psychological distress, their unmet information needs, how prepared they felt for the caregiver role and how competent they felt as a carer.
Four in-patient palliative care units throughout Australia participated in the evaluation of the program:
- Calvary Health Care Bethlehem in Melbourne, Victoria
- Braeside Hospice in Sydney, New South Wales
- Murdoch Community Hospice in Perth, Western Australia.
In total, data was collected from 126 carers, including 42 men and 84 women who attended the program. Analysis of this data found that carers felt better prepared and better informed after they participated in the session. Importantly, on average, carers who participated in the program did not report feeling more distressed after attending.
These findings supported the development of the current website. More detailed information regarding the evaluation of the program will be available here soon.
Please play the following video to view testimonials regarding the benefits of attending an education session.
