Learn Now; Live Well: an educational programme for caregivers

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Learn Now; Live Well (LNLW) educational programme on enhancing the knowledge and support of caregivers living with a life-threatening illness.

Design: A combined summative and formative evaluation design was used. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a questionnaire with a five-point response scale of strongly agree to strongly disagree and semi-structured interviews.

Sample: Two hundred and five participants attended the LNLW programme, interviews were held with a selection of carers and key informants from organizations and the inpatient setting.

Results: At completion of the programme, a substantial reduction in care isolation, and increase in care confidence and knowledge was evident. The findings from the interviews indicated strong support, reassurance and having a skilled facilitator as the fundamental components for the success of the programme.

Conclusion: The LNLW programme successfully improved carers’ access to support across a range of sectors, increasing confidence through education and support.