Implementation of the German CSNAT-I to support family caregivers in palliative home care: Evaluation results

Abstract

Implementation of the German CSNAT-I to support family caregivers in palliative home care: Evaluation results Abstract. Background: Supporting family carers in palliative home care mostly lacks a systematic approach. In a three-year model project, the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention (CSNAT-I), an evidence-based person-centred approach for family caregiver support, was implemented and evaluated in three project regions in North Rhine-Westphalia. Aim: To present the implementation process and factors that impacted on it. Methods: The German CSNAT-I was adapted and subsequently implemented by six hospice services and specialised home palliative care teams with the assistance of champions. The evaluation was based on Normalization Process Theory (NPT) using a mixed methods evaluation design. Results: The German CSNAT-I was used across service boundaries, but routine implementation could not be fully achieved within the relatively short implementation timeframe. Staff members were convinced of the approach's significance, and feedback from family caregivers was generally positive or non-specific. The practice of caregiver support evolved, and the importance of family caregivers received increased attention. Barriers emerged in person-centred communication with family caregivers and within organizational routines. Conclusion: The implementation showed that the person-centred intervention has the potential to enhance caregiver support in the German palliative home care setting. Implementing the CSNAT-I requires a cultural shift within the services.