CAREGIVER RESPONSES TO A THEORETICALLY BASED INTERVENTION PROGRAM: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS (COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT).
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 263
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to determine how caregivers of persons with cognitive impairment responded to a theory-based intervention, and to understand why they responded as they did. This study addressed the question: Did the caregiver respond to the interventions as predicted by the theory?.

This study was based on the Modeling and Role-Modeling theoretical framework (Erickson, Tomlin, & Swain, 1983) and tested the following hypotheses based on propositions of the theory: (a) as need satisfaction is attained, caregivers will be able to attach to a new object (or reattach to an object in a new way); (b) caregivers exhibiting need satisfaction will be able to make progress toward resolution of loss and grief: (c) those caregivers able to mobilize resources will report less burden; and (d) caregivers who report need satisfaction will exhibit growth.

Two cases were analyzed following multiple-case (holistic) case study design. The subjects participated in an 18-month intervention program of bi-weekly support group sessions for caregivers, led by a nurse experienced in Modeling and Role-Modeling theory. The aims of intervention included meeting caregiver needs, providing support, and reframing experiences.

Data were collected by interview and questionnaires at 6-month intervals, and by participant-observation during group intervention sessions. Analysis of the data was done by pattern-matching of individual cases to the patterns of behavior predicted by the theory followed by cross-case analysis. Both subjects had evidence of increased needs satisfaction, attachment, grief resolution, and growth, and decreased burden over the 18 months. All four hypotheses were supported by the data.

These findings support the concepts and linkages proposed by the theoretical framework.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-06, Section: B, page: 3127.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1995.

School code: 0227.