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In research and practice to promote health literacy, people with chronic illnesses represent an important target group. They are confronted with complex demands during the course of their illness. And, they utilize healthcare services more frequently. Patients are often dependent on the support of healthcare professionals. Population-based studies in Germany conducted that the majority of people find it most difficult to assess health information. The studies emphasize the enhancement of professional‘s health literacy, e. g. in nursing profession, as a prerequisite for improving capabilities in the population. In order to achieve better access and a needs-based care for people with chronic illnesses, a project in northern Germany has developed and offered a care-led concept.

Aims and Objective: To explore differences in nurses' attitudes regarding the importance of family in nursing care and factors associated with nurses' attitudes across 11 European countries. Background: Family involvement in healthcare has received attention in many European healthcare systems. Nurses have a unique opportunity to promote family involvement in healthcare; however, their attitudes and beliefs may facilitate or impede this practice. Design: A cross‐sectional survey across European countries. Method: A broad convenience sample of 8112 nurses across 11 European countries was recruited from October 2017 to December 2019. Data were collected using the Families' Importance in Nursing Care‐Nurses' Attitudes (FINC‐NA) questionnaire. We used the STROBE checklist to report the results. Results: There were significant differences in nurses' attitudes about families' importance in nursing care across Europe. Country was the factor with the strongest association with the total scores of the FINC‐NA. Older age, higher level of education, increased years since graduation, having a strategy for the care of families in the workplace, and having experience of illness within one's own family were associated with a higher total FINC‐NA score. Being male and working in a hospital or other clinical settings were associated with a lower total FINC‐NA score. Conclusion: Nurses' attitudes regarding the importance of family in nursing care vary across 11 European countries. This study highlights multiple factors associated with nurses' attitudes. Further research is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the reasons for nurses' different attitudes and to develop a strong theoretical framework across Europe to support family involvement in patient care. The inclusion of family healthcare programs in the baccalaureate curriculum may improve nurses' attitudes. Relevance for clinical practice In clinical practice, the focus should be on identifying influencing factors on nurses' attitudes to enhance families' importance in nursing care across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internationally, there is a growing body of knowledge about young carers, but there is a lack of research about their experiences in later life and about how their caregiving responsibility influences their transition into adulthood and affects them in their future life. The aim of this literature review is to present the experiences of young adult carers in the phase of life in which many decisions are made for one's own life as an adult. In addition, the retrospective perspective of former caregivers will be described, too. Thirteen studies, published in English or German, were included after critical appraisal. Of these, six focused on the phase of transition and seven gave their attention to the retrospective. The analysis was performed explorative in line with the Grounded Theory Method. The findings of the literature review provide insights into the family situations at the time of caregiving and into the tasks of former young carers. They also impart the positive and negative effects. Former young carers assumed responsibilities they did not want to take over. They often took on the parental role. In retrospective, especially older female siblings felt that they had to change roles, often taking over the mother's role. In this role, they sometimes felt overwhelmed and left alone. Adult former carers feel mentally less healthy and insufficiently strengthened due to the long‐term care or support they have given. But there are also positive effects pointed out by former young carers. Many of them are distinguished by outstanding social skills in adulthood. They feel well prepared for life through the care experiences and appreciate the practical skills they have learned. The results of this literature review show that the caring experiences influence the life of former young carers and determine their further life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children and adolescents who provide care, assistance or support for a chronically ill family member are called young carers. While there is a growing body of research about their specific situation, needs and impact of caring, only very few studies provide information on prevalence rates. Objectives: The aim was to provide prevalence data for young carers in Germany, and to describe and quantify the nature and extent of their help. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Settings: Data collection took place between 2016 and 2017 in 44 secondary schools (fifth to 13th grade) in North Rhine‐Westphalia, Germany. Participants: A total of 6313 students aged from 10 to 22 years participated in this study. They represent 0.5% of the basic population. Methods: Based on the results of a preliminary qualitative study, a standardised electronic questionnaire was developed, which comprised four subject areas: socio‐demographic information, general daily aids, health‐related quality of life and chronic illness within the family. Statistical analyses included chi‐square tests for nominal data and univariate analyses of variance for metrical data together with 95% confidence intervals. Results: 19.6% (n = 1238) of all respondents state that someone in their family needs help due to a chronic illness. Nevertheless, not all of them are involved in caring activities. The prevalence of those defined as young carers in this study is 6.1% (n = 383), 64% are girls. They take on a wide range of activities. In addition to domestic work, they help their ill relatives with mobility, dressing and undressing, medication, feeding, personal hygiene and with intimate care. Conclusions: The data provide a good insight into the situation of young carers. The prevalence rate is higher than expected. It refers to the social relevance of this topic and the need for further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]