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Information Needs of Informal Carers |
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Funded by the NHS and Leicestershire County Council, Department of Social Services. Project Head: Dr Mark Hepworth Project Team: Dr Janet Harrison, Dr Frank Odhiambo Duration: July 2000 - December 2000 Description The study was limited to informal carers (people who
are unpaid carers for someone else for over 14 hours per week. 2000 questionnaires
were distributed via CLASP and CVS carers organisations. Seventy one per
cent of the carers were between 40 and 69. Carers reported suffering from
back trouble,(45%), depression (48%), exhaustion (54%) and stress (76%).
75% were unemployed. The condition of the cared for person was quantified;
the care provided. The information needs were defined and categorised.
Sixty carers were interviewed. Topics covered included the state of the
carer, their need for and access to information; the difficulties they
experienced finding out about a range of topics including services, financial
support and addressing information needs in general. The study led to
improvements in information provision to informal carers. Publications: Hepworth, M., 'A Framework for Understanding User Requirements for an Information Service: Defining the Needs of Informal Carers', Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 55(8), March 2003, 99695-708, ISSN 1532 2890. Contact: Dr Mark Hepworth
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