Impact of a frailty intervention on informal carers. A substudy of the Frailty Intervention Trial - FIT (ACTRN12608000250336)

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This is a substudy of the Frailty Intervention Trial - FIT (ACTRN12608000250336). Please refer to ACTRN12608000250336 for a brief summary of the FIT. Informal support is an important part of the total care provided to frail older people and essential to the implementation of patient interventions. However, the examination of informal carers’ experience of a patient intervention is rarely measured. Informal carer experience is an important consideration, particularly in terms of them maintaining their role and quality of care for the frail older person. The aim of this cohort sub study is to compare the effects of a multidisciplinary frailty intervention to usual care of a frail older person living in the community on informal carers’ experience of caregiving. An informal carer is a person who provides unpaid care to a family member or friend who needs help in their daily activities. This ranges from supervision to assistance with personal care, mobility and communication, through to emotional support and practical and financial assistance. Informal carers are key players or partners in the caregiving process and so a concern for their well-being is of importance, particularly in terms of them maintaining their role and quality of care for the frail older patient. As the population ages, the role of the informal carer will become more significant and providing them with appropriate support will be vital. Informal carers of the participants in the Frailty Intervention Trial (FIT)(ACTRN12608000250336) will be invited to participate. A background questionnaire delivered at baseline will determine sociodemographic characteristics, caregiving tasks and care duration. The impact of the Frailty Intervention Trial (FIT) (ACTRN12608000250336) on informal carer’s experience will be measured using three validated carer assessment tools at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. A follow-up measure will also be gathered at 15-18 months. The informal carers will also be given the opportunity to discuss their caregiving experience in a semi-structured interview at 12 months after the baseline questionnaire. The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of The Frailty Intervention (FIT) on informal carers’ positive and negative aspects of caregiving. The secondary objective is to obtain a more sensitive and deeper understanding of the informal carers’ experience via a semi-structured interview. Evaluation of the impact of the Frailty Intervention Trial (FIT)(ACTRN12608000250336) on informal carers’ experience will increase our understanding of aspects of their caregiving by providing insight into carers’ perspectives, highlighting complexities and daily realities of care. In addition, it will provide us with information on how informal carers may be integrated more effectively into the implementation of frailty interventions for older people.