What was the CALM study about?
The Caring and Life Management (CALM) study tested a new way of nurses supporting carers of people diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The study was carried out in Fife, Dundee, Angus and Perth by the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland) and the School of Nursing and Midwifery,
University of Dundee. The study was funded by The Big Lottery Fund.
There were two parts to the research
Experiment
The experimental part of the study indicated the new intervention was no better than the standard support carers received from nurses.
However, a reduction in carer burden was associted with both interventions.
In-depth case study
The case study involved in-depth interviews with carers and nurses. It identified five areas which might affect the
impact of the interventions which were examined in the experimental study: These areas are;
- The condition of the patient
- The way care is delivered
- The quantity and condition of support
- The way services are delivered
- The experience of nurses
Support for the carer should consist of information and services that reflect the changing needs of carers and the person whom they cre for.
Good communication skills, interest and knowledge from nurses had a positive impact in promoting carer wellbeing.
Training
The original nurse training programme which was developed for the study has now been changed to reflect these findings.
Dissemination
We have communicated the findings of the study to a wide range of carers, their families, nurses and other professionals.
We have done so in a number of ways.
Dissemination plan
- Further information about the study, and the venues and dates where the findings will be presented, can be found here on the CALM website
- Letters were sent out to all carers' who took part in the CALM study inviting them to an informal presentation and buffet lunch. Letters
were also sent to the nurses who took part in the study also inviting them to attend an informal presentation of the CALM study results. These
events were held both in Tayside and Fife.
The following formal presentations of the CALM study have also been made to academics, educationalists and
professionals through seminars, conferences and publications in the events listed.
- A seminar series at Ninewells Hospital in dundee to GP's throughout Scotland in December 2005
- A research seminar series in the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Dundee and video-conferenced in Fife
to nurses, nurse educators, and academics in November 2006.
- A public health seminar series in the Centre for Integrated Health and Care Research at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh to researchers,
clinicians and academics throughout Scotland in November 2006.
- Presentation made in the 2007 International Nursing Research Conference organised by the Royal college of Nursing in Dundee to international audiences, researchers and academics in May 2007.
- Two journal articles have been published on the pilot study and training programme for nurses:
- Gall et. al., (2001). Training nurses to support carers of relatives with Schizophrenia. British Journal of Nursing, 10 (4), 238-241.
- Gall et. al., (2003). Supporting carers of people diagnosed with Schizophrenia: evaluating change in nursing practice following training. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 41 (3), 295-305.
It is intended to submit further articles for publications.
To ensure an extensive coverage a number of media will be used:
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