title: Supporting South Asian carers and those they care for: the role of the primary health care team.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Demographic and socioeconomic changes have increased policy interest in informal carers. However, despite the multicultural nature of British society, most research in this field has been in majority communities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of the primary health care team (PHCT) in supporting carers from British South Asian communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four South Asian communities in Leicestershire and West Yorkshire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups and in-depth interviews were used to assess male and female carers, supported by a literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Failure to recognise carers' needs, gaps in service provision, and communication and language issues compromised carers' ability to care. While some carers were positive about the PHCT role, the main weaknesses concerned poor consultation, PHCT attitudes towards carers, and access to appropriate services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  South Asian carers' experiences largely parallel those of others, but there are some issues that are distinct, namely, language and communication barriers, culturally inappropriate services, and implicit or explicit racism. The multi-ethnic nature of Great Britain requires that professional practice enhances the ability of minority ethnic communities to provide informal care. The findings underline the important role of the PHCT in ensuring that carers' needs are taken seriously and that appropriate services reach them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Leicester.
authors.forename: Savita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katbamna
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhakta
authors.forename: Waqar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D024382:Professional Role; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012944:Social Support