Edge Hill University
alert system to provide much needed support to North West end of life carers
AN Edge Hill University developed
alert system, designed to assess the needs of people caring for terminally
ill loved ones, has featured prominently in the recently published National
Institute for Health Research Better Endings report.
The Carers' Alert Thermometer (CAT) is a simple screening tool, developed
with more than 245 carers and professionals from around the North West, that
aims to provide an alert to potential areas of burden that carers are
experiencing, and trigger interventions where appropriate.
The CAT is a response to a major research study that informed the Better
Endings report, undertaken at Edge Hill University and funded by the NIHR.
The study found that support received by unpaid family carers could be a
significant factor in what happens to terminally ill people, particularly
those with cancer, at the end of their lives.
Professor Barbara Jack, Director of Edge Hill's Evidence based Practice
Research Centre, said the Better Endings report provides important insight
into the issues facing those on the front line of palliative care.
"Prior to commencing the research
project, it had become apparent that an increasing number of cancer
patients, who had elected to die at home, were being admitted to hospital in
their last days of life. While honouring people's final wishes and helping
them die with dignity is common to all carers' motivations, it was
identified that in many cases carer fatigue played a pivotal role in end if
life hospitalisation. The CAT has been designed to help carers and
professionals identify breakdown behaviours and risk areas before they
escalate, helping many more terminally ill people avoid hospitalisations
during their finals days." Professor Jack said.
Better Endings is the 1st such report to bring together evidence on a single
topic from across the NIHR. The review is being launched at an event taking
place at the Kings Fund in London, which will be attended by NHS clinicians,
commissioners, patients and researchers.
The themed review aims to help NHS decision makers by presenting the
findings of 17 NIHR studies in a clear and comprehensive way. It also
highlights 12 pieces of ongoing NIHR funded research that are evaluating new
and existing care initiatives, such as 'hospice at home' and a new data
sharing service to improve continuity of care.
The CAT research team included Dr Katherine Knighting, Dr Mary O 'Brien,
Professor Brenda Roe from
Edge Hill University, Professor Mike
Nolan (University of Heffield), Professor Mari Lloyd Williams (University of
Liverpool), Dr Rob Gandy (Independent Consultant), and Kirsty Pine
(Liverpool CCG).
For more information about the CAT screening tool:- 'Better
Endings' is available to
download on the NIHR Dissemination Centre
website.
