Simple training for care givers improves the quality of life of the patients and their care givers. Kalra and colleagues (p 1099) randomised 300 care givers, who were looking after stroke patients, to an intervention consisting of training in basic nursing and helping with activities of daily living or to standard care. The trained care givers reported that care giving was less of a burden, and they were less anxious or depressed. Patients' mortality and admission to hospital were similar in both groups, but patients who were helped by trained care givers experienced less anxiety, less depression, and a better quality of life.
Figure 1.
Credit: ULRIKA PREUSS