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Aim <p>Family caregivers often face major challenges in shouldering their responsibilities. General practitioners are in a unique position to recognise the needs, wishes and expectations of this target group and to provide a stabilising influence for those in caregiving roles.</p> Subject and methods <p>From 2023 to 2024, a qualitative, exploratory series of interviews was conducted with 50 general practitioners in the federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse. The study aimed to document the perspectives, experiences and perceived challenges of general practitioners in their efforts to support caregivers.</p> Results <p>The interviewees reported regular contact with family caregivers and emphasised the importance of providing continuous support. They regarded early outreach as an opportunity to prevent caregiver overload. The majority saw it as part of their professional duty to refer caregivers to available support services. Many general practitioners noted that caregivers often have high expectations of medical practices and that particular challenges can arise from family conflicts. The bureaucratic complexity of the care system, the lack of financial compensation and time constraints were cited as difficulties. Many physicians expressed a need for further education on how to deal with caregivers.</p> Conclusion <p>To strengthen the role of general practitioners in supporting family caregivers, practice teams should reach out to them at an early stage and ensure that they are consistently referred to local support services. To ensure effective support, it is essential to take into account the needs of both caregivers and care recipients within a triadic relationship. To provide caregivers with better support, primary care provision should be made more appealing, and the role of caregivers should receive greater social and political attention.</p>

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How can primary care providers act as points of contact and support for family caregivers? – Findings from an exploratory series of interviews with general practitioners

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月18日

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  • Julian Wangler,
  • Michael Jansky

摘要

Aim

Family caregivers often face major challenges in shouldering their responsibilities. General practitioners are in a unique position to recognise the needs, wishes and expectations of this target group and to provide a stabilising influence for those in caregiving roles.

Subject and methods

From 2023 to 2024, a qualitative, exploratory series of interviews was conducted with 50 general practitioners in the federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse. The study aimed to document the perspectives, experiences and perceived challenges of general practitioners in their efforts to support caregivers.

Results

The interviewees reported regular contact with family caregivers and emphasised the importance of providing continuous support. They regarded early outreach as an opportunity to prevent caregiver overload. The majority saw it as part of their professional duty to refer caregivers to available support services. Many general practitioners noted that caregivers often have high expectations of medical practices and that particular challenges can arise from family conflicts. The bureaucratic complexity of the care system, the lack of financial compensation and time constraints were cited as difficulties. Many physicians expressed a need for further education on how to deal with caregivers.

Conclusion

To strengthen the role of general practitioners in supporting family caregivers, practice teams should reach out to them at an early stage and ensure that they are consistently referred to local support services. To ensure effective support, it is essential to take into account the needs of both caregivers and care recipients within a triadic relationship. To provide caregivers with better support, primary care provision should be made more appealing, and the role of caregivers should receive greater social and political attention.