1 Resilience for family carers of advanced cancer patients – how can health care providers contribute? – A qualitative interview study with carers Ingebrigt Røen 1,2 , Hans Stifoss-Hanssen 3 , Gunn Grande 4 , Anne-Tove Brenne 1,5 , Stein Kaasa 1,6 , Kari Sand 1 , Anne Kari Knudsen 1,6 Abstract Background: Caring for advanced cancer patients affects carers’ psychological and physical health. Resilience has been defined as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of threat”. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore factors promoting carer resilience, based on carers’ experiences with and preferences for health care provider support. Design: Qualitative, semi-structured, individual interviews with family carers of advanced cancer patients were performed until data saturation. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using systematic text condensation. Setting/participants: Carers (n=14) of advanced cancer patients, not receiving curative treatment, admitted to an integrated curative and palliative care cancer outpatient clinic or to a university hospital cancer clinic, were included. Results: Fourteen carers of advanced cancer patients were included; seven men, seven women, mean age 59; three were bereaved; 12 were partners; five had young and teenage children. Four main resilience factors were identified: 1) being seen and known by health care providers – a personal relation; 2) availability of palliative care; 3) information and communication about illness, prognosis and death; and 4) facilitating a good carer-patient relation. Conclusions: Health care providers may enhance carers’ resilience by a series of simple interventions. Education should address carers’ support needs and resilience. Systematic assessment of carers’ support needs is recommended. Further investigation is needed into how health care providers can help carers and patients communicate about death. 1 European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway 2 Chaplaincy, St. Olavs Hospital HF, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway 3 VID Specialized University, Center of diakonia and professional practice, Oslo, Norway 4 Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Manchester, England 5 Cancer Clinic, St. Olav’s Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway 6 Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway Corresponding author: Ingebrigt Røen, European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway Chaplaincy, St. Olavs Hospital HF, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway E-mail: ingebrigt.roen@stolav.no