The CALM intervention was developed and evaluated during an 18 month research study conducted between September 1999 and April 2001. The study was funded by the Scottish Executive, Mental Health Development Fund. This fund enables the development of services not currently provided by Health Boards in Scotland.

The content for the support intervention and training programme was identified and developed from focus group interviews and questionnaires completed by nurses, nurse managers and carers in the Perth locality. Ten nurses then undertook the training course and delivered support to one carer each.

The support intervention was developed from the work of Mike Nolan, Professor of Gerontology, University of Sheffield who provided advice on this topic. The training programme was developed from the work of Dr Jacqueline Atkinson, Department of Public Health, Glasgow University. Dr Atkinson was involved at all stages of the study.

Carers had input into the development of the course at all stages. Focus groups of people who are carers helped to devise the course content and carers helped with the training by speaking to the nurses about their experiences.

A curriculum development group comprising carer representatives, nurses, nurse managers, academics and the teaching and research team refined the training module as a result of the findings of the study and expert opinion. This group also developed the module for health service providers working with carers of any client group who had long term care needs.

The pilot study was carried out by the University of Dundee, School of Nursing & Midwifery, in collaboration with Murray Royal Hospital, Perth, and the Department of Public Health, University of Glasgow. A steering group comprising carers, subject experts and academics oversaw the study.

The pilot study found that:

Nurses reported changes in their practice as a result of the training; in particular they became more carer focused.