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Table 1 Characteristics of qualitative studies.

From: Young carers: growing up with chronic illness in the family - a systematic review 2007-2017

N

References

Aim

Sample

Setting, data collection and analysis

1.

Moore and McArthur (2007)

Australia

To identify the current needs and barriers to services for young carers and their families

Convenience sampling: Young carers n = 50 (F n = 24; M n = 26)

Age: 9–24

Care recipient: parents

Setting: NR

Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews: Participatory approach with peer researchers

Content analysis

2.

Earley et al. (2007)

UK

To explore young carer’s appraisals of the impacts of caregiving and the ways they cope with these demands

Convenience sampling: Young carers n = 17 (F n = 3;M n = 14)

Age: 10–16

Care recipient: siblings n = 8, parents n = 8, grandparent n = 1

Setting: two locations of supporting projects for young carers

2 focus group interviews with 9 und 8 adolescents; 3 semi-structured interviews with female participants;

Thematic analysis

3.

Bolas et al. (2007)

UK

To explore the personal experiences of young carers in relation to their well-being

Convenience sampling: Young carers n = 5 (F n = 3; M n = 2)

Age: 14–18

Care recipient: sibling, parent, stepfather

Setting: at home or at the young carer’s centre

Semi-structured interviews

Interpretative phenomenological analysis

4.

5.

Metzing (2007)

Metzing and Schnepp (2008)

Germany

To gain insight into the situation of young carers and their families in order to provide a basis for the concept of family oriented support

Theoretical Sampling: Families n = 34, Young carers n = 41 (F n = 25; M n = 16)

parents n = 41

Care recipient: parents, siblings, grandparents

Setting: the interview appointments and locations were chosen by the families – mostly at home

Semi-structured interviews

Grounded Theory

6.

Kain (2009)

USA

To identify and describe the basic social psychological problem shared by young adolescent girls

Theoretical Sampling:

Young carers n = 9 (F n = 9)

Age: 11–14

Care recipient: grandparents, parents, others

Setting: the interview appointments and locations were chosen by the families – at home Semi-structured interviews

Grounded Theory

7.

Moore and McArthur

(2009)

Australia

To gather young carers’ views about school, the challenges they face in engaging with education and their peers

Convenience sampling:

Young carers n = 51 (F n = 29; M n = 22)

Age: 12–21

Care recipient: family members

Setting: interviews by phone and a group interview 51 interviews: semi-structured interviews n = 44 and a group interview with 7 young carers

Data analysis: NR

8.

McDonald et al. (2009)

New Zealand

To explore experiences of both young carers and those they support

Convenience sample:

Young carers n = 14 (F n = 12; M n = 2)

Age: 11–26

Care recipient: parents, siblings, grandparents

Setting: NR

Semi-structured interviews (if possible: together with the supported ill family member)

Grounded Theory

9.

Richardson et al. (2009)

UK

Qualitative evaluation of a young carers’ initiative

Convenience sampling:

Young carers n = 24 (F n = 12; M n = 12)

Age: 11–16

Care recipient: siblings, parents,

Setting: the location of supporting project for young carers

3 focus group discussions

Thematic content analysis

10.

Svanberg et al. (2010)

UK

To discover the experiences of the children of younger people with dementia.

Convenience sampling:

Young carers n = 12 (F n = 6; M n = 6)

Age: 11–18

Care recipient: parents (F n = 2; M n = 7)

Setting: the interview locations were chosen by the young carers– at home

Semi-structured interviews

Grounded Theory - Constant comparative methods and analysis carried out cyclically

11.

Nichols et al. (2013)

Canada

To learn more about the needs and experiences of young carers of parents with frontotemporal dementia

Convenience sample:

Young carers n = 14 (F n = 10; M n = 4)

Age: 11–18

Care recipient: parents

Setting: interviews via telephone und Skype

Semi-structured focus group interviews

Descriptive thematic analysis

12.

Doutre et al. (2013)

UK

To explore the experiences of young carers from a strengths-based perspective

Convenience sample:

children, who were accompanied more than two years in a Young carers support project n = 6 (F n = 3; M n = 3)

Age: 11–13

Care recipient: parents

Setting: at school

3 semi-structured interviews and photo elicitation techniques

Interpretative, phenomenological analysis

13.

Ortner (2014)

Austria

To understand the life of children, who grow up with a mental ill parent

Convenience sample:

Young carers n = 9 (F n = 6; M n = 3)

Age: 13–24

Care recipient: parents

Setting: NR

9 qualitative interviews

Grounded Theory

14.

15.

Großmann (2015)

Germany

Mauseth & Hjälmhult (2016)

Norway

To identify the needs and relevance for supporting young carers

Convenience sampling:

Experts n = 3,

Young carers n = 11 (F n = 6; M n = 5)

Age: 7–13

Care recipients: parents

Theoretical Sampling:

Adolescents n = 15, (F n = 8; M n = 7)

Care recipient: parents with multiple sclerosis disease

Setting: the location of supporting project for young carers in Germany (YCD)

3 expert interviews, 11 problem-centred, semi-structured interviews

5 focus group interviews

content analysis

Setting: The interviews took place in a quiet setting without disruptions, in the family home or a convenient office nearby.

Semi-structured interviews

Grounded Theory