Public health

Due to recent advances in medical technology, the number of children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) is steadily growing in the United States. CSHCN comprise more than 40% of overall healthcare costs nationwide, even though this group is only comprised of 16% of the U.S. child population. There are significant differences between private and public health plans in terms of cost, adequacy, and parent satisfaction. As an added benefit, some public and private health insurance plans offer nursing care coordination (or nursing case management) services.

Objective: The objective of this study was to understand the conceptualisation and development of a novel way of providing end‐of‐life care in a Cottage Hospice setting, with a focus on the role of family carers and volunteers within this care model. Methods: A participatory action research design enabled a situational analysis, together with change processes. The study setting was a hospice in the South of England, and its network of wider associates in the local health economy. Participants were purposively sampled to provide relevant information.

Objectives This study aimed to assess the lived experiences of palliative care among critically unwell people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), caregivers and relatives of deceased patients. It also aimed to understand the broader palliative care context in Bihar. Design This was an exploratory, qualitative study which used thematic analysis of semistructured, in-depth interviews as well as a focus group discussion.

Introduction Caring for stroke survivors creates high levels of care burden among family caregivers. Previous initiatives at alleviating the care burden have been unsuccessful. The proposed study aims to evaluate the effect of a tailored multidimensional intervention on the care burden among family caregivers of stroke survivors. Based on the perceived needs of family caregivers, this intervention takes into account scientific recommendations to combine three different approaches: skill-building, psychoeducation and peer support.

Background: Most persons with dementia have multiple chronic conditions; however, it is unclear whether co-existing chronic conditions contribute to health-care use and cost. Methods: Persons with dementia and >= 2 chronic conditions using the National Health and Aging Trends Study and Medicare claims data, 2011 to 2014. Results: Chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease were significantly associated with increased adjusted risk ratios of annual hospitalizations, hospitalization costs, and direct medical costs.

Introduction: Informal caregivers play a major role in the support and maintenance of community patients with severe psychiatric disorders.

Female family caregivers (FFCs) constitute one of the basic supports of socio-health care for dependence in developed countries. The care provided by FFCs may impact their physical and mental health, negatively affecting their quality of life. In order to alleviate the consequences of providing care on FFCs, the Spanish Public Health System has developed the family caregiver care programme (FCCP) to be applied in primary care (PC) centres. The effectiveness of this programme is limited. To date, the addition of a physical therapeutic exercise (PTE) programme to FCCP has not been evaluated.

Highlights

• We determined the relationship between long hours of care and the assistance in each activity of daily living (ADL) element.

• The assistance in wiping of the body, dressing and toileting were significantly associated with longer hours of care .

• To support caregivers effectively, it is important to consider the kinds of ADL elements of the care recipients.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey.; Objective: The objective of this study is to identify what characteristics of the family caregivers influenced the use of professional home care for persons with SCI in Switzerland.; Setting: Community setting, nationwide in Switzerland.; Methods: Questionnaires were filled out by the adult family caregivers of persons with SCI. Influence of characteristics of the caregivers was analyzed with regression models, adjusting for the characteristics of the person with SCI.

Introduction: In European countries, the increasing of dependency affects individual, family-level and political aspects. The purpose is to analyse the effects on the health of informal carers living with a dependent person and the number of hours taken up by this care.