RESUMO
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To examine how carers perceive and rate the importance of their needs and to make recommendations regarding service improvements. RESEARCH DESIGN: A descriptive survey of a randomly selected group of carers taken from the client list of the Northumberland Head Injury Service. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed. RESULTS: There was a poorer quality of life and higher level of psychiatric morbidity amongst carers than is recognized in the general population. Carers with high levels of unmet need had significantly higher levels of psychiatric morbidity and a perceived lower quality of life. Experiences of caring were individualized. CONCLUSION: There was a great variability of experience and needs amongst carers. Assessment of needs and planned interventions should be made on an individual basis. The hypothesis that providing an increased level of emotional and instrumental support could reduce psychiatric morbidity and improve quality of life should now be explored.