Ondersteuning van naasten van patiënten in de palliatief terminale fase door de wijkverpleegkundige.

Background Family caregivers are crucial in end-of-life care. However, family caregiving may experience burden and feel insufficiently prepared for their role. Although nurses in the primary health care are in a unique position to support family caregivers at home, few nursing interventions are available to support family caregivers in this context. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effects of a structured nurse-led supportive intervention on family caregivers in end-of-life care at home. Design We will conduct a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effects of a new nurse-led supportive intervention on the well-being of family caregivers at home. The clusters will consist of home care services in the southwest of the Netherlands. Population The study population will consist of 184 family caregivers of terminal ill patients receiving home care.

We hypothese that the new nurse-led supportive intervention will improve the well-being of family caregivers and decrease acute admissions.

Family caregivers (both intervention- and control group) will be invited to complete the questionnaires at 2-4 time points: - at baseline (T0), - one months after baseline (T1), - two months after baseline (T2), - 4-6 weeks following the patient’s death (T3).

A structured nurse-led intervention to support family caregivers in end-of-life care at home. The control group will receive care as usual.