Clinical trial NCT01786083: Caring for Family Caregivers:a Research-action Study
Official title: Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Reduction and Perceived Wellbeing Improvement in Female Primary Caregivers of Chronically Ill Patients by the Application of Problem Solving Technique by Primary Health Care Nurses
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Depressive Symptoms
Anxiety
Emotions
Keywords: family caregivers
dependency
Problem Solving Technique
home based nursing
Lead sponsor: Fundacio d'Investigacio en Atencio Primaria Jordi Gol i Gurina
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Preventive Services and Health Promotion Research Network
First posted: 2013-02-07
Enrollment: 122
Sex: FEMALE
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Problem Solving Technique (PST) in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression among primary caregivers of chronically ill patients.

And also to describe and evaluate the process carried out by nurses when implementing the PST as a useful tool for care for family caregivers.

Detailed description: Background: In Spain, home care for the chronically ill and their family caregivers should be a priority in health and social policies due to the aging of the population and the progressive increase in dependent individuals. In our case, 88% of healthcare within dependency care is provided by the family and only 12% by health professionals. The family requires comprehensive and multidisciplinary ongoing care, in which the primary healthcare nurse plays a leading role. One of the areas involved is home-based nursing and counselling for family caregivers, in order to improve the quality of the care provided and to prevent issues arising that may adversely affect the caregiver's life.

Method: This is a research-action study with a mixed analysis methodology. Quantitative analysis was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Problem Solving Technique in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression among family caregivers. The clinical trial involved a control and experimental group and pre-post intervention measurements, using the Goldberg scale of anxiety and depression. The sample consisted of 122 caregivers who presented one of these positive subscales. The technique's application process was evaluated for the qualitative analysis, with a content analysis of the records of 10 nurses performing the experimental intervention.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Caregivers of chronically ill patients included in the ATDOM programme, who at the time of the intervention had a positive score on the Goldberg scale for anxiety and/or depression.

Exclusion Criteria:

Professional caregivers

Primary outcomes:
measure: Anxiety
timeFrame: Two years
measure: Depression
timeFrame: Two years
measure: perceived wellbeing levels
timeFrame: two years
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Tarragona
country: Spain
facility: Primary Health Centers, Tarragona Province
Study officials:
References: