Projects » Families, Children and Relationships »

Assessment of the needs of informal carers and the information needs of people affected by cancer in British Forces Germany (BFG)

Read the Report

The Final Report for this study is now available. Please download it by clicking on the link below.

Project Summary - Please find the background, aims, methods, key findings and recommendations for this project

About our work

The Cancer Care Research Centre (CCRC) was commissioned by the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) and British Forces Germany (BFG) to undertake research to assess the supportive care needs of military personnel, entitled civilians and their dependants affected by cancer whilst stationed in Germany. This research was the result of a needs assessment undertaken by DMWS which raised concerns that Services personnel and their families who are affected by cancer, and who are posted to Germany, encounter difficulties in accessing the whole range of supportive care that they require.

For more information on the Needs Assessment of Military Personnel and Dependants based in Germany project and to read the final report click here.

From the findings a number of recommendations were made including the need for an assessment of the needs of carers and development of a comprehensive information strategy.

How did we carry out our work?

We had two strands of work:

Strand 1 Needs of Informal Carers

This strand reviewed and assessed factors that have an impact on the provision of support to informal carers. It explored and documented carer's experiences, focussing on how support is accessed, current sources of support, both formal and informal, and awareness and use of supportive care.

The information was gathered through the following methods:

  • Postal survey of all identified carers across BFG
  • Interviews with carers
  • Interviews and focus groups with other personnel involved in the provision of supportive care for Services personnel and entitled civilians
  • Re-analysis of relevant transcripts of interviews from the previous study with German health professionals, military personnel and representatives of services such as Hospital Liaison Officer's
Strand 2 Information Needs of People Affected by Cancer

This strand considered the factors that have a direct impact on the provision of and need for information and involved:

  • Review of the profile of people affected by cancer in BFG
  • Review of the current information sources available to Services personnel and entitled civilians within Germany
  • Review of the current international literature in relation to the information needs of people with cancer.
Utilising the information generated from these activities, the next stage of work compared the assessed need with current information provision and involved:
  • Focus groups with people affected by cancer across all five Garrisons
  • Interviews and focus groups with Key Stakeholders involved in the provision of information for Services personnel and entitled civilians.
The data from both phases was combined and presented to key stakeholders following which a series of recommendations were presented. These focused on:
  • The nature and volume of information required by Services personnel and entitled civilians in Germany
  • Identification of gaps in the provision of information
  • Potential for additional information services, local or remote
  • Identification of education and development needs in relation to the provision of information for people affected by cancer.

Ethics and steering group

This project has gained ethical approval from the University of Stirling and from the MoD.

Who did we work with?

Strand 1 Needs of informal Carers
Strand 2 Information needs of people affected by cancer

Funding Organisation

DMWS and British Forces Germany

Programmes

Current Projects

PhD Studies

Completed Projects