Table 1 Characteristics of patients and carers
Categories | Sub-categories | Patient (N = 52) | §Carer (N = 14) |
|---|---|---|---|
Residence | ACT | 26 (50.0%) | 6 (42.9%) |
Sydney West | 26 (50.0%) | 8 (57.1%) | |
Gender | Male | 28 (53.8%) | 1 (07.1%) |
Female | 24 (46.2%) | 13 (92.9%) | |
Age | Less than 45Â yrs | ^1 (1.9%) | 2 (14.3%) |
45-64Â yrs | 16 (30.8%) | 5 (35.7%) | |
65-85Â yrs | 35 (67.3%) | 7 (50.0%) | |
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) | CALD background | 11 (21.2%) | 5 (35.7%) |
Indigenous | Indigenous background | 7 (13.5%) | 0 |
Finance | Experiencing financial difficulties | 31 (59.6%) | 11 (78.6%) |
Marital Status | Married/de facto/living with a partner | 29 (55.8%) | 13 (92.9%) |
Work Status | Employed | 5 (9.6%) | 2 (14.3%) |
Not employed | 47 (90.4%) | 12 (85.7%) | |
Diagnosis | Type 2 diabetes | 16 (30.8%) | *4 (28.6%) |
CHF | 15 (28.8%) | *2 (14.3%) | |
COPD | 10 (19.2%) | *5 (35.7%) | |
More than one index condition | 11 (21.2%) | *3 (21.3%) | |
Average length of illness | 16.5Â years | *21.4Â years | |
Other co-morbid conditions | 43 (86.5%) | *11 (85.7%) | |
Visit to GP | Weekly | 4 (7.7%) | *1 (7.1%) |
Fortnightly | 8 (15.4%) | *6 (42.9%) | |
Monthly | 23 (44.2%) | *5 (35.7%) | |
Bi-monthly | 3 (5.8%) | *0 | |
Quarterly | 7 (13.5%) | *1 (7.1%) | |
Half-yearly | 2 (3.8%) | *0 | |
Only when necessary | 5 (9.6%) | *1 (7.1%) | |
Family Carer | Have a family carer | #22 (42.3%) | NA |
Average length of caring | #14.7Â years | 12.5Â years | |
Relationship of carer to patient | Â | Â | |
Offspring | 6 (27.3%) | 4 (28.6%) | |
Spouse/partner | 14 (63.6%) | 10 (71.4%) | |
Other | 2(9.1%) | 0 | |
Carer receives financial assistance | #5 (22.7%) | 5 (35.7%) | |
Carer receives informal support | #14 (63.6%) | 9 (64.3%) |