Perceptions of Home-visit Care Helpers and Informal Caregivers on the Importance and Performance of Care Helper Duties

Purpose: This study examined differences in perceptions of the importance and performance of care helper duties between home-visit care helpers and informal caregivers, providing data to improve service quality in home-based care.Method: This study employed a cross-sectional comparative descriptive design. A total of 128 participants (64 home-visit care helpers and 64 informal caregivers) completed a structured questionnaire assessing the perceived importance and performance of care duties across six domains. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0. In addition, open-ended questions were included to identify reasons for gaps between perceived importance and performance, and the responses were analyzed through descriptive content analysis.Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups. Caregivers perceived "special care assistance" as more important (t=-5.01, p<.001), whereas care helpers reported higher performance in "physical care assistance" (t=0.85, p=.041). Among the reasons identified exclusively by care helpers was “role confusion arising at the boundary of professional care.” In contrast, reasons identified only by informal caregivers included “insufficient care due to indifference” and “limited performance capacity due to lack of training.” Reasons commonly identified by both groups were “lack of balance between caregiving and household tasks” and “burden of care, an unbearable reality”Conclusion: Discrepancies in perceived importance and performance between care helpers and caregivers highlight the need for clearer role definitions and targeted training. A dual-track system in care helper roles and the standardization of tasks may enhance service consistency and strengthen trust between home-visit care helpers and informal caregivers.