Unmet Need For Support Research Articles

The Situation of Caregivers in Heart Failure and Their Role in Improving Patient Outcomes

This paper describes experiences of caregivers to patients with heart failure and their role in improving patient outcomes. Being related to and caring for someone with heart failure involves several prominent changes in daily life that may sometimes be experienced as stressful and burdensome. Since heart failure is a chronic condition, the burden will be permanent and sometimes increases during the illness trajectory. Caregiver burden increases if the caregiver experiences poor mental and/or physical health, limitations in daily life, isolation, loneliness and a lack of sufficient social and professional support. Interventions to reduce caregiver burden should focus on improving social support, providing knowledge of heart failure and increasing the perceived control over the situation. To date, there is limited research evaluating effects of psycho-educational interventions. The few studies that have been conducted reported neutral effects, despite having included structured education and individualized support as requested by caregivers. There is still a knowledge gap on how to fulfill the caregiver's often unmet need for support. Therefore, research on developing and evaluating new family-focused interventions is warranted.

Internet Message Boards for Pregnancy Loss: Who’s On-Line and Why?

Background Pregnancy loss is common, but its significance is often minimized by family, friends, and the community, leaving bereaved parents with unmet need for support. This study sought to describe demographics, usage patterns, and perceived benefits for women participating in Internet pregnancy loss support groups. Methods We requested permission to post an anonymous Internet survey on large and active United States Internet message boards for women with miscarriages and stillbirths. The study purposefully oversampled stillbirth sites and included both closed- and open-ended questions. The University of Michigan Institutional Review Board approved the study. Closed-ended questions were summarized and evaluated with bivariate analysis. We performed a qualitative analysis of open-ended data using an iterative coding process to identify key themes. Results Of 62 sites queried, 15 granted permission to post the survey on 18 different message boards. We collected 1,039 surveys, of which 1,006 were complete and eligible for analysis. Women were typically white, well educated, and frequent users. They noted message boards helped them to feel less isolated in their loss and grief and they appreciated unique aspects of Internet communication such as convenience, access, anonymity, and privacy. Pregnancy loss message boards are an important aspect of support for many bereaved mothers. African-American women seem to be substantially underrepresented on-line despite being at higher risk for stillbirth. Conclusion Internet message boards serve a unique function in providing support for women with miscarriage and stillbirth. The benefits are often significantly different from those encountered in traditional face-to-face bereavement support.

4229 POSTER Evaluation of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Input Into the Breast Reconstruction Pathway at Guys & St Thomas' Hospital Foundation Trust (GSTT): Adressing the Unmet Support Needs of Patients Undergoing Breast Reconstruction

4229 POSTER Evaluation of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Input Into the Breast Reconstruction Pathway at Guys & St Thomas' Hospital Foundation Trust (GSTT): Adressing the Unmet Support Needs of Patients Undergoing Breast Reconstruction

The Unmet Information and Support Needs of Women with a Family History of Breast Cancer: A Descriptive Survey

This study aims to survey the unmet support needs of women at increased risk of developing breast cancer. In total, 173 unaffected women with a family history of breast cancer completed a 28-item purposely-designed mailed survey. The majority of participants did not report a high level of unmet need for support. Receiving further information about cancer genetics was the most commonly reported area of unmet need. Only about 20% of participants reported a moderate to high degree of interest in attending a hypothetical support group. However, a higher degree of interest was expressed in internet-based information and supportive interventions. Amongst those interested in attending a support group, discussion, and receiving further information were the most preferred activities. Higher levels of unmet support needs were significantly associated with interest in attending groups. No demographic variables were found to predict interest in attending a support group. Implications for those considering establishing support groups are discussed.

‘The Ties that Bind’: Feminist Perspectives on Self–Help Groups for Prisoners’ Partners

Recent research has recognised the role of self–help groups in helping women cope with the imprisonment of a male partner. However, little research has explored the benefits of membership, beyond the pragmatic recognition that the groups meet an unmet need for support and information. With reference to the findings of recent qualitative research conducted by the author in the UK, this article integrates interdisciplinary perspectives drawn from criminal justice research, family theory and gender studies to construct a gendered theoretical framework for understanding the significance and value of group membership, exploring gendered ideologies of caring and questioning the role of self–help groups in empowering women.