Supporting informal caregiving: a SWOT analysis of participatory methodologies in an Italian policy case study
Abstract
This article aims to provide methodological insights into participatory approaches used in the domain of healthcare and social policies to support informal carers of older adults with Long-Term Care (LTC) needs. Participatory approaches can play a crucial role in triggering Social Innovation processes in this field, particularly in countries belonging to the Mediterranean LTC model, characterized by a strong reliance on informal care. Drawing on a study conducted in the Italian context, this paper examines participatory methods through a SWOT analysis of a multi-stakeholder research process. The main strengths and weaknesses of participatory approaches are discussed through practical examples, providing an overview of their key features. The analysis highlights how stakeholder engagement can enhance the relevance and legitimacy of research outputs and foster mutual empowerment processes. At the same time, it reveals challenges related to the continuous adaptation of research designs and the negotiation of diverse interests and perspectives.
Related
- The shared burden of frailty in rheumatoid arthritis - a qualitative study of informal caregiving roles and support needs from the perspectives of patients and their informal caregivers.
- Beyond dementia knowledge and eHealth literacy: the influence of information sources on informal caregivers’ self-efficacy in dementia caregiving
- Informal carers’ experiences of mental health services regarding supporting those they care for and getting support for their own wellbeing: A systematic umbrella review of qualitative evidence
- Instrumental and sensory methodologies to characterize the residual film of topical products applied to skin
- Mothers' emotional and caregiving experiences during the first month after a child's acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis: A qualitative study
BibTeX
@article{sofritti2026supporting,
title = {{Supporting informal caregiving: a SWOT analysis of participatory methodologies in an Italian policy case study}},
author = {Federico Sofritti and Cristina Calvi and Giovanni Lamura and Georgia Casanova},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1924503},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1924503},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Supporting informal caregiving: a SWOT analysis of participatory methodologies in an Italian policy case study
AU - Federico Sofritti
AU - Cristina Calvi
AU - Giovanni Lamura
AU - Georgia Casanova
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1924503
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1924503
AB - This article aims to provide methodological insights into participatory approaches used in the domain of healthcare and social policies to support informal carers of older adults with Long-Term Care (LTC) needs. Participatory approaches can play a crucial role in triggering Social Innovation processes in this field, particularly in countries belonging to the Mediterranean LTC model, characterized by a strong reliance on informal care. Drawing on a study conducted in the Italian context, this paper examines participatory methods through a SWOT analysis of a multi-stakeholder research process. The main strengths and weaknesses of participatory approaches are discussed through practical examples, providing an overview of their key features. The analysis highlights how stakeholder engagement can enhance the relevance and legitimacy of research outputs and foster mutual empowerment processes. At the same time, it reveals challenges related to the continuous adaptation of research designs and the negotiation of diverse interests and perspectives.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -