Evaluating the Role of Support Group Structures as Vehicles of Palliative Care: Giving Productivity in the Kanye Care Program in Botswana

AIMS: The article aims to explore, evaluate, and discuss the role associated with the presence or absence of caregivers’ support groups in the Kanye care program in Botswana. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to solicit the views, attitudes, and thinking of palliative caregivers on the role, and implication of the presence and absence of support groups as vehicles influencing care-giving productivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was explorative and descriptive in nature and used a qualitative design, involving 82 primary caregivers in focus group discussions and five community home-based care nurses in one- to-one interviews. RESULTS: The support groups were found to play the following pivotal roles: (1) facilitate forums of strengthening caregivers; (2) facilitate sharing and exchange of information among caregivers; (3) facilitate counselling, debriefings, and education among caregivers; (4) foster the spirit and feelings of togetherness among caregivers; and (5) act as advocacy fronts and an opportunity of pooling and mobilizing the resources. CONCLUSION: The article recommends to the Government and the nongovernmental organizations to assist all care programs to institute and facilitate the formation of caregivers’ support groups.