Intervention
’ disease
The Care-IS intervention was developed by our multidisciplinary team (including a variety of stakeholders and consumer representatives) using the UK Medical Research Council Framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions [The Care-IS complex intervention comprised four components: (1) initial telephone assessment of carer unmet needs; (2) tailoring of a personalised resource folder; (3) home visit; (4) ongoing monthly telephone support for up to 12 months. All components of the intervention were documented and standardised in an evidence-based study manual which also contained resources for the intervention nurses to use (e.g., risk of falling; managing in an emergency). The following sections were included in the resource folder: Dealing with the diagnosis; caring for yourself; practical matters; communicating with friends or relatives; communicating with health providers; dealing with treatment, understanding physical symptoms and side effects; understanding mental and behavioural changes; lifestyle choices and complementary therapies; fertility and sexuality; and end of treatment. Carers received different parts of each section depending on the patients’ disease progression and the nurses’ assessment of the carers’ unmet needs.During the telephone assessments the intervention nurses used the Palliative Care Needs Assessment Tool (PC-NAT) [