Improving Information to Caregivers Via Adaptation and Implementation of the HERMES Intervention

The HERMES intervention was developed in a Danish setting after a comprehensive investigation on caregivers' needs. The intervention consists of: 1) a systematic identification of the caregiver's unmet information needs and 2) a subsequent consultation with a nurse providing the lacking information. The evaluation carried out in a randomized trial at Herlev Hospital showed positive results. It reduced the unmet information needs and improved the caregivers' evaluation of the information from and communication with the health care professionals and the perception of being seen and acknowledged as a caregiver. However, although research projects may show a positive effect, this does not mean that the intervention will be easily implemented in the health care system. Nor does it guarantee that the intervention will show the expected results once implemented in a busy clinical routine.

Therefore, the present project will adapt the HERMES intervention to be implemented in Danish departments of oncology and haematology by (in the first part of the project):

1. Elucidating how the HERMES intervention is best implemented in the clinical setting according to the clinical staff.

2. Elucidating how the HERMES intervention is best implemented in the treatment and follow-up period according to the patients and their caregivers.

3. Developing a technological solution (an app) for the HERMES intervention in which the responses given by the caregivers will form the basis for a subsequent consultation with the health care staff.

4. Revising the HERMES intervention based on the outcomes of a-c.

5. Testing the revised HERMES intervention in a pilot study.

In the second part of the project, the revised HERMES intervention will be tested in a large scale trial with the purpose to:

1. Implement the revised HERMES intervention in the departments of oncology/haematology.

2. Test the effect of the revised HERMES intervention.

3. Evaluate the feasibility of the revised HERMES intervention in a large scale.

4. Elucidate the effectiveness and the feasibility of the intervention and assess possibilities and potential needs for further adaptation in order to secure the future applicability in the Danish Health Care System.

Thus, the overall aim is that by the end of the study, an evidence based and practical implementable method to (continous) use of the HERMES intervention in the Danish health care system is available.