title: With good intentions: complexity in unsolicited informal support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding people's social lived experiences of chronic illness is fundamental to improving health service delivery and health outcomes, particularly in relation to self-management activity. In explorations of social lived experiences this paper uncovers the ways in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic illness experience informal unsolicited support from peers and family members.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen Aboriginal and Torres Islander participants were interviewed in the Serious and Continuing Illness Policy and Practice Study (SCIPPS). Participants were people with Type 2 diabetes (N = 17), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (N = 3) and/or chronic heart failure (N = 11) and family carers (N = 3). Participants were asked to describe their experience of having or caring for someone with chronic illness. Content and thematic analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews was undertaken, assisted by QSR Nvivo8 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants reported receiving several forms of unsolicited support, including encouragement, practical suggestions for managing, nagging, growling, and surveillance. Additionally, participants had engaged in 'yarning', creating a 'yarn' space, the function of which was distinguished as another important form of unsolicited support. The implications of recognising these various support forms are discussed in relation to responses to unsolicited support as well as the needs of family carers in providing effective informal support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Certain locations of responsibility are anxiety producing. Family carers must be supported in appropriate education so that they can provide both solicited and unsolicited support in effective ways. Such educational support would have the added benefit of helping to reduce carer anxieties about caring roles and responsibilities. Mainstream health services would benefit from fostering environments that encourage informal interactions that facilitate learning and support in a relaxed atmosphere.
authors: Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, Australian National University, Ian Potter house, Cnr Marcus Clarke and Gordon streets, Acton 0200 Canberra, Australia.
authors: Nathaniel J
authors: NJ
authors: Ward
authors: Tanisha
authors: T
authors: Jowsey
authors: Penny J
authors: PJ
authors: Haora
authors: Clive
authors: C
authors: Aspin
authors: Laurann E
authors: LE
authors: Yen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D017144:Focus Groups; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support