The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) is a brief, evidence-based tool designed to assess the support needs of family carers providing end-of-life care. This article details the development and validation of the CSNAT, examining its face, content, and criterion validity, as well as its sensitivity to change over time. The CSNAT addresses a critical gap in palliative care by offering a practical tool for identifying the specific support needs of carers.
The CSNAT was developed based on existing evidence and refined through feedback from a professional and carer advisory group, as well as pilot interviews with 10 carers. A total of 225 adult carers of patients receiving hospice home care in the U.K. participated in the validation study. Data were collected at baseline and four weeks later using self-completed questionnaires. These questionnaires included the CSNAT, established measures of distress, strain, positive appraisals, preparedness, global health, help with activities of daily living, and patient symptom levels.
The study found that the CSNAT demonstrated strong face and content validity, comprehensively covering the range of carer support needs. Criterion validity was also confirmed, with CSNAT scores showing significant correlations with established measures. Specifically, higher CSNAT scores were positively correlated with carer strain and distress, and negatively correlated with preparedness for caregiving and global health. Correlations were also observed with the level of help required with activities of daily living, as well as some relationships with positive appraisals and patient symptom burden. Furthermore, the CSNAT demonstrated sensitivity to change over time comparable to other established measures.
The results indicate that the CSNAT is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the support needs of carers in palliative care settings. Its comprehensive content combined with its ease of administration makes it a valuable tool for both research and clinical practice. The CSNAT can facilitate the identification of specific carer needs, enabling tailored support interventions to improve carer well-being and enhance the quality of end-of-life care. This tool empowers healthcare professionals to proactively address the often overlooked needs of family carers, recognizing their crucial role in providing care for individuals nearing the end of life.
The CSNAT provides a much-needed resource for assessing carer support needs and enabling targeted interventions. Its robust validation supports its use in both research and practice within palliative care settings. Further research could explore the implementation of the CSNAT in diverse care settings and evaluate its impact on carer outcomes and the quality of end-of-life care.
