Table 3 Characteristics of the carers and patients included in the analysis, n = 23
| Â | Â | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
Carer (participant) | ||
 Gender | Female | 16 (69.6) |
 Age | Median (range) | 63 (44–81) |
 Relationship to patient | Spouse/partner | 17 (73.9) |
Child | 4 (17.4) | |
Parent | 1 (4.3) | |
Other | 1 (4.3) | |
 Lives with/staying with patient | 21 (91.3) | |
 In full or part time work (vs retired) | 6 (26.0) | |
 College or university educated | 11 (47.8) | |
| Â | Â | Baseline; last recorded |
 Carer burden during end-of-life care [26], range 0 (best)–100 (worst) | Mean | 34.78; 40.83 |
Standard deviation | 25.16; 26.89 | |
Median | 29.17; 35.00 | |
Range | 0–90; 0–100 | |
Best quartile, n % | 11(47.8); 8(34.8) | |
2nd quartile, n % | 7(30.5); 9(39.1) | |
3rd quartile, n % | 3(13.0); 3(13.0) | |
Worst quartile, n % | 2(8.6); 3(13.0) | |
Patient | Â | |
 Gender | Female | 10 (43.5) |
 Age | Median (range) | 70 (43–93) |
 Lives alone (vs with spouse/other) | 3 (13.0) | |
 College or university educated | 9 (45.0) | |
 Receives attendance allowancea | 11 (47.8) | |
 Diagnosis | Cancer | 20 (87.0) |
Non-cancer | 3 (13.0) | |
 Place of death | Hospice | 4 (17.4) |
Hospital | 4 (17.4) | |
Home | 2 (8.7) | |
Unknown or alive at end of study | 13 (56.5) | |
| Â | Â | Baseline; last recorded |
 Functional status—ECOG [25] | 0. Fully active | 0; 0 |
1. Restricted in strenuous activity | 1(4.3); 2(8.7) | |
2. Ambulatory, capable of self-care but not work | 11(47.8); 5(21.7) | |
3. Limited self-care | 7(30.4); 8(34.8) | |
4. Completely disabled | 4(17.4); 3(13.0) | |
5. Dead | 0; 5(21.7) | |
 Service satisfaction |  | Baseline; last recorded |
Exceeds expectations | 10(43.5); 10(43.5) | |
Meets expectations | 10(43.5); 12(52.2) | |
Falls short of expectations | 3(13.0); 1(4.3) | |