Psychosocial needs of informal carers of persons with schizophrenia: exploring the role of nurses

Introduction: In Spain and the United Kingdom, more than 80% of people with schizophrenia are cared for by informal carers who are at risk of experiencing chronic stress. If this stress is not dealt with in time, a more serious disorder could develop. The present article aims to explore the role of nursing in this group of carers and attempts to answer the question: to what extent do nurses' views of their role affect their practice with carers?

Design: A qualitative study within the framework of Grounded Theory was performed. Four in-depth interviews were analyzed.

Conclusions: Participants perceived carers as coworkers and as a resource for the patient, rather than as potential clients. However, the attitude of nurses seemed to be changing from a perspective focused on the patient and the illness to one that takes the carer's needs and health status into account. More data should be collected to confirm and explore these findings in greater depth.