Does the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) cover the support needs of young carers? A systematic literature search and narrative review.

Abstract

Young carers support family members with a range of health issues but with known detrimental impacts on young carers themselves suggesting they require support. The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (v3.0) is a well-established tool enabling unpaid/family carers to identify and express their support needs to healthcare professionals. However its comprehensiveness for young carers is unknown. To explore whether the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (v3.0) covers the support needs of young carers identified within published literature. Systematic literature search and narrative review. English language studies were identified against predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria through searching databases and reference lists of included papers. Papers were critically appraised, and data extracted and synthesised by three reviewers. Identified needs were mapped to the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (v3.0) questions. CINAHL (EBSCO), EMBASE (Ovid), Applied Social Science Index and Abstract, Medline (EBSCO), American Psychological Association, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (January 2010-December 2024). Thirty-four papers were included. Synthesis of findings confirmed that young carers have (often unmet) support needs relating to information, emotional distress, relationships (including parent-child relationships), accessing services and education. Mapping these to the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (v3.0) questions suggested it requires adapting to ensure coverage of education and parent-child relationships. Young carers can require support across many areas, suggesting they would benefit from identifying and expressing their needs to healthcare professionals. The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention could enable this but requires identified adaptations to the v3.0 tool.