Table 1.
Characteristics of study participants
| Categories | Sub-categories | Patient (n = 52) | §Carer (n = 14) |
| Residence | Australian Capital Territory | 26 (50%) | 6 (43%) |
| Sydney West | 26 (50%) | 8 (57%) | |
| Gender | Male | 28 (54%) | 1 (7%) |
| Female | 24 (46%) | 13 (93%) | |
| Age | Up to 64 years | 17 (33%) | 7 (50%) |
| 65 years and over | 35 (67%) | 7 (50%) | |
| Special groups | αCulturally & linguistically diverse background | 11 (21%) | 5 (36%) |
| Indigenous Australians | 7 (14%) | 0 | |
| Marital Status | Married/de facto/living with a partner | 29 (56%) | 13 (93%) |
| βDiagnosis | Type 2 diabetes | 27 (52%) | *7 (50%) |
| Chronic heart failure | 20 (38%) | *4 (29%) | |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 17 (33%) | *7 (50%) | |
| More than one index condition | 11 (21%) | *3 (21%) | |
| Average length of illness (years) | 16.5 | *21.4 | |
| Other co-morbid conditions | 43 (87%) | *11 (86%) | |
| Visit to GP | Monthly or more often | 35 (67%) | *12 (86%) |
| Bi-monthly or less frequently | 17 (33%) | *2 (14%) | |
| Family Carer | Have a family carer | #22 (42%) | Non applicable |
| Average length of caring (years) | #14.7 | 12.5 | |
| Carer receives financial assistance | #5 (23%) | 5 (36%) | |
| Carer receives informal support | #14 (64%) | 9 (64%) | |
α Born in one of the following countries: Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Turkey, Syria, South Africa, Philippines, Malaysia, Samoa, Hong Kong, China
β The total number combines more than 52 because ten patients had two of the index conditions and one patient had all three conditions
§ Nine carers were spouses or offspring of the patients interviewed
* Denotes the carer's account about the patient's condition and management
# Denotes the patient's account about the carer