Barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease (MND) caregivers when trying to access bereavement support: a qualitative cross-sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6–36 months postbereavement informal MND caregivers in the UK

Background Caregivers of people with motor neuron disease (MND) face more negative consequences of caregiving than other terminal illnesses. The impact of this caregiver burden can negatively influence bereavement outcomes.Objectives This study aims to explore the support needs of caregivers of peop...

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Main Authors: Laura Cramond, Liberty Braben, Deepsi Khatiwada, Belinda F Bradley, Suresh K. Chhetri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-01-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e091503.full
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author Laura Cramond
Liberty Braben
Deepsi Khatiwada
Belinda F Bradley
Suresh K. Chhetri
author_facet Laura Cramond
Liberty Braben
Deepsi Khatiwada
Belinda F Bradley
Suresh K. Chhetri
author_sort Laura Cramond
collection DOAJ
description Background Caregivers of people with motor neuron disease (MND) face more negative consequences of caregiving than other terminal illnesses. The impact of this caregiver burden can negatively influence bereavement outcomes.Objectives This study aims to explore the support needs of caregivers of people with MND, the types of bereavement services they use, or the reasons for not using bereavement services, and understanding the opportunities and barriers to accessing bereavement services.Design The design of the study was a qualitative interview study using thematic analysis following the method of Braun and Clarke (2006).Setting and participants Twenty bereaved caregivers of people with MND were purposively sampled. Participants were recruited through the Lancashire and South Cumbria MND Care and Research Centre.Results Thematic analysis revealed four overarching themes: (1) type of support accessed, (2) the importance of people who understand, (3) barriers to accessing support, and (4) being (un)prepared for death and afterwards.Conclusions Caregivers of people with MND require people who understand their unique needs to support them, alongside professional support, to prepare them for the death of their loved one and beyond. Barriers to accessing support included the need for in-person support, insufficient financial support or signposting to relevant services and being unprepared for death and bereavement.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2044-6055
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spelling doaj-art-430217e19172411890282c267290b9042025-02-03T13:35:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-01-0115110.1136/bmjopen-2024-091503Barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease (MND) caregivers when trying to access bereavement support: a qualitative cross-sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6–36 months postbereavement informal MND caregivers in the UKLaura Cramond0Liberty Braben1Deepsi Khatiwada2Belinda F Bradley3Suresh K. Chhetri4Maggie’s Oldham, The Sir Norman Stoller Building, Royal Oldham Hospital, Oldham, UKThe School of Psychology and Humanities, Universtiy of Central Lancashire, Preston, UKNIHR Lancashire Clinical Research Facility, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UKThe School of Psychology and Humanities, Universtiy of Central Lancashire, Preston, UKLancashire and South Cumbria MND Care and Research Centre, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UKBackground Caregivers of people with motor neuron disease (MND) face more negative consequences of caregiving than other terminal illnesses. The impact of this caregiver burden can negatively influence bereavement outcomes.Objectives This study aims to explore the support needs of caregivers of people with MND, the types of bereavement services they use, or the reasons for not using bereavement services, and understanding the opportunities and barriers to accessing bereavement services.Design The design of the study was a qualitative interview study using thematic analysis following the method of Braun and Clarke (2006).Setting and participants Twenty bereaved caregivers of people with MND were purposively sampled. Participants were recruited through the Lancashire and South Cumbria MND Care and Research Centre.Results Thematic analysis revealed four overarching themes: (1) type of support accessed, (2) the importance of people who understand, (3) barriers to accessing support, and (4) being (un)prepared for death and afterwards.Conclusions Caregivers of people with MND require people who understand their unique needs to support them, alongside professional support, to prepare them for the death of their loved one and beyond. Barriers to accessing support included the need for in-person support, insufficient financial support or signposting to relevant services and being unprepared for death and bereavement.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e091503.full
spellingShingle Laura Cramond
Liberty Braben
Deepsi Khatiwada
Belinda F Bradley
Suresh K. Chhetri
Barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease (MND) caregivers when trying to access bereavement support: a qualitative cross-sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6–36 months postbereavement informal MND caregivers in the UK
BMJ Open
title Barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease (MND) caregivers when trying to access bereavement support: a qualitative cross-sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6–36 months postbereavement informal MND caregivers in the UK
title_full Barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease (MND) caregivers when trying to access bereavement support: a qualitative cross-sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6–36 months postbereavement informal MND caregivers in the UK
title_fullStr Barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease (MND) caregivers when trying to access bereavement support: a qualitative cross-sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6–36 months postbereavement informal MND caregivers in the UK
title_full_unstemmed Barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease (MND) caregivers when trying to access bereavement support: a qualitative cross-sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6–36 months postbereavement informal MND caregivers in the UK
title_short Barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease (MND) caregivers when trying to access bereavement support: a qualitative cross-sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6–36 months postbereavement informal MND caregivers in the UK
title_sort barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease mnd caregivers when trying to access bereavement support a qualitative cross sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6 36 months postbereavement informal mnd caregivers in the uk
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e091503.full
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