Trial of Benefit Finding in Caregivers: The Building Resources in Caregivers (BRiC) Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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A randomised controlled trial that will compare the effects of a brief benefit -finding writing intervention with an active control condition on quality of life and psychological health among informal caregivers.

Detailed Description
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A double-blind, randomized controlled parallel group study design with an equal 1:1 allocation ratio will be employed. This study will compare the effect of a brief benefit finding writing intervention with a control condition among caregivers. Caregivers currently caring for people with mental and physical disabilities will be randomised into a two-week, a) a benefit writing group or b) a control writing group. Caregivers will complete self-report measures relating to their care-recipient and themselves (e.g., illness type, and sociodemographics) and psychometric measures of benefit finding (primary outcome), psychological distress and quality of life(secondary outcomes). These will be assessed via online software at baseline, immediate post-test and at 3 month follow-up. Additionally, expectations and fidelity indices will be assessed and qualitative commentary on participation experiences gathered.

Official Title
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A Randomised Controlled Trial of Benefit Finding in Caregivers: The Building Resources in Caregivers (BRiC) Study Protocol

Conditions
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Quality of Life, Psychological Distress

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Benefit-finding Writing Activity
* Behavioral: Neutral Writing Activity


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Must be over the age of 18 Must identify as caring for a family member, friend or relative Must be living in Ireland Exclusion Criteria: If the person cared for is living in institutional care

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Benefit-finding Writing Activity<br>For two weeks, on six days of their choice, caregivers will be instructed to write about their thoughts and feelings in a diary/ notebook about the benefits of caring. | Behavioral: Benefit-finding Writing Activity<br>* Caregivers will be instructed to write about the benefits of caring, considering things such as improved social relationship, appreciation of life and loved ones, and the positive consequences with respect to these.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Neutral Writing activity<br>For two weeks, on six days of their choice, caregivers will be instructed to write about a neutral topic. | Behavioral: Neutral Writing Activity<br>* The control group will be instructed to write number of things about the weather that day. Although the sentences can be as long or as short as they like, they will be encouraged to try and aim for about 3 or 4 sentences at least.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Benefit Finding (Adapted version of the 17-item Benefit Finding Scale; Antoni et al., 2001) | Used to assess change in benefit-finding levels over the course of the intervention and follow-up | Baseline, immediate post-intervention (two weeks), and 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Caregiver Quality of Life (40 item Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire; Joseph, Becker, Elwick, & Silburn, 2012) | This measures quality of life in eight separate domains: support for caring; caring choice; caring stress; money matters; personal growth; sense of value; ability to care; and carer satisfaction. Used to assess change in quality of life levels over the course of the intervention and follow-up | Baseline, immediate post-intervention (two weeks), and 3 months | 
| Psychological Distress (Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale; Zigmond & Snaith, 1983) | Used to assess change in psychological distress levels over the course of the intervention and follow-up, and as a moderator | Baseline, immediate post-intervention (two weeks), and 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Caregiving, Benefit Finding, Writing Intervention