Table 1 Care support needs from general practitioners compared to actual support by importance (answer categories: Very/moderately important or completely agree/somewhat agree)

... is familiar with everyday life and challenges of caring for family members.

85%

... is familiar with everyday life and challenges of caring for family members.

72%

… is familiar with my personal situation as a caregiver.

80%

… is familiar with my personal situation as a caregiver.

71%

… feels responsibility for the issues facing people caring for family members and provides advice and assistance.

85%

… feels responsibility for the issues facing people caring for family members and provides advice and assistance.

82%

… does not wait for me to raise issues with the GP but proactively addresses issues.

68%**

… does not wait for me to raise issues but proactively addresses them.

18%**

… provides emotional support such as encouragement during care.

57%*

… provides emotional support such as by giving encouragement during care.

23%*

… makes decisions with me on caring for the person in my care.

74%*

… makes decisions with me on caring for the person requiring care.

48%*

… sees not only the needs of the person in my care but also my opinions, needs and stresses.

76%

… sees not only the needs of the person in my care but also my opinions, needs and stresses.

60%

… includes the person in my care in decisions and responds to his or her requests.

83%

… considers the person in my care in decisions and responds to his or her requests.

82%

… encourages me to raise my own health concerns.

32%

… encourages me to address my own health concerns.

23%

… has enough time for me.

85%**

… has enough time for me.

29%**

… performs home visits to relieve me and get to know the person in my care in our home environment.

75%**

… performs home visits to relieve me and get to know the person in my care in our home environment.

23%**

… gives me time to consider important decisions on care.

59%

… gives me time to consider important decisions on care.

81%

… tells me about local support and assistance services.

85%*

… tells me about local support and assistance services.

55%*

… makes arrangements for support and assistance services for me.

83%**

… makes arrangements for support and assistance services for me.

6%**

… advises me on legal aspects such as power of attorney, care assistance, and driving.

80%**

… advises me on legal aspects such as power of attorney, care assistance, and driving.

13%**

… conducts regular follow-up observations.

70%*

… conducts regular follow-up observations.

41%*

… makes diagnoses early.

78%*

… makes diagnoses early.

51%*

… manages and provides medical treatment to my family member.

52%

… manages and provides medical treatment to my family member.

45%

… arranges doctors specialised in the field for us.

85%

… arranges doctors specialised in the field for us.

95%

… explains the situation to the person in my care in ways that he or she can understand, therefore supporting me.

85%

… explains the situation to the person in my care in ways that he or she can understand, therefore supporting me.

85%

… is early to acknowledge me as the caregiver with the awareness that I am responsible for caring for my family member.

85%**

… is early to acknowledge me as the caregiver with the awareness that I am responsible for my family member’s care from the beginning.

42%**