Artikel: Short-term and long- term effects of a psycho-educational group intervention for family caregivers in palliative homecare – results from a randomized control trial (2016)
Door Charlotte Spaas op Woe, 03/08/2016 - 15:24
Family caregivers in cancer and palliative care often face heavy responsibilities and feel
insufficiently prepared for the situation as caregivers. This study evaluates short-term and long-term
effects of a psycho-educational group intervention aiming to increase preparedness for family caregiving
in specialized palliative home care.
Methods
The study design was a randomized control trial where family caregivers were allocated
either to an intervention or control group. The intervention was delivered as a program including
three sessions by health professionals (physician, nurse, and social worker/priest). Family caregivers
from 10 specialized palliative home care settings were included. Questionnaires with validated instruments
at baseline, upon completion, and 2 months following the intervention were used to measure effects of the intervention.
The primary outcome was preparedness for caregiving in family caregivers.
Results
In total, 21 intervention programs were delivered, and 119 family caregivers completed all
three measurements. The intervention group had significantly increased their preparedness for caregiving
in both the short-term and long-term follow-up compared with the control group. The intervention group
also reported significantly increased competence for caregiving in short-term but not long. No effects of
the intervention were found on rewards for caregiving, caregiver burden, health, anxiety, or depression.
Conclusions
The psycho-educational intervention has the potential to be used by health professionals to improve
preparedness for caregiving among family caregivers in palliative care both in
short and long terms.
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Attachment:
