%0 Journal Article
%@ 2368-7959
%I JMIR Publications
%V 6
%N 5
%P e13688
%T How Is the Caregiver Doing? Capturing Caregivers’ Experiences With a Reflective Toolkit
%A Bosch,Lilian
%A Kanis,Marije
%A Dunn,Julia
%A Stewart,Kearsley A
%A Kröse,Ben
%+ Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Wibautstraat 2-4, Amsterdam, 1091 GM, Netherlands, 31 21156886, m.kanis@hva.nl
%K human-centered design
%K informal caregivers
%K experience sampling
%K home care
%K positive psychology
%K mental health
%K reflective technologies
%K well-being
%K HCI (human computer interaction)
%D 2019
%7 28.05.2019
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Ment Health
%G English
%X Background: This paper describes the Co-Care-KIT, a reflective toolkit designed to provide insights into the diverse experiences of home-based informal caregivers during the delivery of care to a relative or loved one. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the toolkit, including a custom-designed journal, tools for photography-based experience sampling, and heart rate tracking, which enables caregivers to collect and reflect on their positive and negative daily experiences in situ. Methods: A 2-week field study with informal caregivers (N=7) was conducted to evaluate the Co-Care-KIT and to capture their daily personal emotional experiences. The collected data samples were analyzed and used for collaborative dialogue between the researcher and caregiver. Results: The results suggest that the toolkit (1) increased caregivers’ awareness of their own well-being through in situ reflection on their experiences; (2) empowered caregivers to share their identities and experiences as a caregiver within their social networks; (3) enabled the capturing of particularly positive experiences; and (4) provided caregivers reassurance with regards to their own mental health. Conclusion: By enabling capturing and collaborative reflection, the kit helped to gain a new understanding of caregivers’ day-to-day needs and emotional experiences. 
%M 31140435
%R 10.2196/13688
%U http://mental.jmir.org/2019/5/e13688/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/13688
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31140435