Research on the Partners in Care campaign, run jointly by The
Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the Royal College of
Psychiatrists, has highlighted its success in terms of raising
awareness of carers' issues in the UK.
An external evaluation found that a third of psychiatrists
felt the campaign had caused a change for the better in their
practice with carers; and a quarter said that being more involved
with carers had changed the way they assessed their patients.
Carers felt that the campaign had given them better knowledge
of the mental health system, and as many as 91% had a better
understanding of the issue of confidentiality as a result of the
campaign leaflet.
The aims of the campaign, which ran from January 2004 to June
2005, were to draw attention to the problems faced by carers of
people with different mental health problems and learning
disabilities; and to encourage true partnerships between carers,
patients and professionals.
The research measured the effect of the campaign among
psychiatrists, people who had specifically requested campaign
materials, carers' centres within The Princess Royal Trust for
Carers and carers themselves.
The main findings were:
- the campaign generated significant awareness among its key
audiences
- 42% of psychiatrists questioned were aware of the campaign,
although 50% of those were not personally involved with any of the
specific elements in it
- nearly 80% were aware of component elements of the campaign,
although only 48% of carers were aware of the campaign's name
- 100% of carers centres who responded to the research knew about
the campaign
- over 70% of carers were aware of specific campaign materials,
such as leaflets and checklists.
Overall, the key role of the campaign was perceived by all
groups to be about improving communication between psychiatrists,
carer and patient. Psychiatrists felt that the campaign related to
communication with, and involvement for, carers in the treatment of
the patient, but only 40% believed that it was about helping
themselves in treating the patient.
Carers' Centres in The Princess Royal Trust for Carers Network
believed that there should be more training on carers' issues, and
more carers' information for mental health professionals. Over 90%
of centres also wanted carers' modules delivered by carers to be
included in continuing professional development for qualified
mental health professionals. Eighty percent wanted greater media
publicity about carers' issues.
Peter Tihyani, Co-Chair of the Partners in Care campaign and
Policy Director of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, commented,
"This research shows that the aims of our campaign have been
achieved - and achieved well.
'Although the formal campaign has come to an end, we shall
continue to use its materials, which have been very well received,
in our day-to-day work. Much remains to be done to develop
partnerships between professionals, carers and patients, but we
believe that this campaign has established an excellent foundation
for the future."
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127