Web of science - exported 12/7/2016

This paper examines the changed social circumstances of older people in South Korea and specifically the increased need for formal health and social services for those who are frail and have no informal carers. The article begins with a summary account of the country's exceptionally rapid demographic, economic and social transformations, which demonstrates a widening gap between the population's expectations and needs, and health and social service provision.

Objective To investigate how doctors engage with patients with psychotic illness in routine consultations. Design Conversation analysis of 32 consultations between psychiatrists and patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Setting Two psychiatric outpatient clinics in east London and south west London. Participants 7 psychiatrists and 32 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Main outcome measure Mutual engagement in communication during the consultation.

Previous intervention research has shown that group education sessions for carers are effective but not always feasible due to the demands of the caregiving role and the difficulty in getting carers to attend. This project was a consumer-led research initiative to develop and evaluate a multimedia resource (DVD) providing information and support for carers of people receiving palliative care.

Objectives: A lack of compassion in UK healthcare settings has received much recent attention. This study explores the experiences of people with dementia in the last year of life and time surrounding death and how the presence and lack of compassion, kindness and humanity influenced the experience of care.

Design: Qualitative in-depth interviews with bereaved informal carers of people with dementia.

Setting: United Kingdom.

In Australia, newly initiated, publicly subsidised ‘Home-Care Packages’ designed to assist older people (≥65 years of age) living in their own home must now be offered on a ‘consumer-directed care’ (CDC) basis by service providers. However, CDC models have largely developed in the absence of evidence on users’ views and preferences. The aim of this study was to determine what features (attributes) of consumer-directed, home-based support services are important to older people and their informal carers to inform the design of a discrete choice experiment (DCE).

Background: Empirical research suggests that involving carers brings benefits to families and services. Consequently, drug-related policy and guidance has increasingly encouraged drug services to involve carers at all levels of service provision.

Objective: To explore the purpose and scope of carer involvement with adult drug services in North-east Scotland.

Within a study of the use of carer assessment forms, Asian carers were given the opportunity to describe and comment on their perceptions and experiences of community care assessment and support. Although their confidence in community care workers was not exclusively related to ethnicity, they relied a great deal on semi-informal contacts with minority ethnic workers through their own local communities. The concept of ‘friendship’ with professionals was important to many Asian carers.

Background: The family has a primary role in caring for family members who are suicidal and in the prevention of future suicide. However, the impact that suicidal behaviour has on these family members is poorly understood.

Aim: To explore the lived experiences of participants who cared for suicidal family members.

Methods: Eighteen participants were interviewed using a short topic guide. Responses were digitally recorded and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

The use of technology in rehabilitation therapies targets the sustainability of health systems and the improvement of quality of life of the user (therapists, patients and informal carers). Robot or exoskeleton assisted rehabilitation systems, which are based on neurorehabilitation principles, are tools that not only help patients move the arm with precision; they also help reduce the fatigue of the therapist during the process.