Facilitating pathways to care: A qualitative study of the self‐reported needs and coping skills of caregivers of young adults diagnosed with early psychosis

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing 2020-08, Vol.27 (4), p.368-379
• Main Authors: Cheng, Sunny Chieh, Backonja, Uba, Buck, Benjamin, Monroe‐DeVita, Maria, Walsh, Elaine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological - physiology; Adult; Aged; care pathways; Caregivers; Caregivers - psychology; carers/families; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child psychology; Coping; early intervention; Early Medical Intervention; Family - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Medical diagnosis; Middle Aged; Nursing; Psychosis; Psychotic Disorders - nursing; qualitative methodology; Qualitative Research; Quality of life; Self Report; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 1351-0126; 1365-2850
• DOI: 10.1111/jpm.12591

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? In clinical psychiatry and mental health nursing practice, family caregivers are known to provide the bulk of care and play an important role in facilitating recovery outcomes for their loved ones diagnosed with psychosis. Providing services and interventions to family caregivers is as important as to patients in the early stage of psychotic experience for having a beneficial impact on the patients’ clinical and social outcomes. Limited qualitative research has focused on family caregivers’ subjective views of what they need during the critical period to identify early warning signs and connect their loved ones to professional help as they have no prior experience in caring for persons with psychosis. What this paper adds to existing knowledge? Using qualitative analysis of family caregiver focus groups, this manuscript provides readers in clinical nursing practice with an understanding of family caregivers’ lived experiences of supporting their loved one diagnosed with early psychosis. Understanding family caregivers’ caregiving unmet needs in supporting their loved one diagnosed with early psychosis could inform both the technology‐assisted intervention development and nursing practice in improving family‐centred care and facilitate self‐management practice. Implications for mental health nursing Psychiatry and mental health nursing has long been engaged with the health and well‐being of individuals with psychosis and supporting their families in the development, evaluation and implementation of innovative approaches to patient and family education. Digital technologies designed to deliver tailored intervention for family caregivers are underdeveloped, and the present study identifies a number of potential features that could comprise technology to meet the needs of this population. Introduction Caregivers play a critical role in detecting and managing psychotic symptoms before young people diagnosed with early psychosis present to care. Little is known about the specific needs of caregivers in navigating pathways to care for their loved one. Aim The purpose of this study was to understand the needs of family caregivers and their ways of coping on the pathway to care for early psychosis. Method Twenty family caregivers of individuals diagnosed with early psychosis participated in three focus groups that explored caregiving needs provision for early psychosis. Thematic analysis was conducted. Results We ide