Integrating Caregiver Support Into MS Care
- Conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Behavioral
- Registration Number
- NCT02835677
- Lead Sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Brief Summary
With loss of mobility in multiple sclerosis (MS) comes an increase in amount and types of caregiver assistance, with a concomitant increase in burden for the caregiver. In fact, effect on caregiver burden can be seen as a potential indicator of the efficacy of MS management, suggesting that the caregiver is an appropriate and independent target for MS therapeutic strategies.
MS patients report difficulty implementing and continuing with home exercise, mobility, and walking programs. This feasibility study will test integration of a successful behavioral caregiving intervention into clinical practice to improve functioning of Veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their Caregivers. Caregivers of Veterans with MS will receive a behavioral caregiver intervention designed to address caregiver coping and management of patient concerns, with special focus on patient mobility and walking. A pre-post intervention design will compare outcomes for Veterans and Caregivers.
For Veterans, the intervention will target Caregiver participation in home-based Veteran mobility activities. MS Caregivers report high burden, stress, and depression involved in caring for their loved ones, especially as mobility declines and these outcomes are related to physical and emotional health status of the patient. For Caregivers, the intervention will focus on improving Caregiver coping and on managing MS-related problems. Outcomes for both will be measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.
Study Objectives include:
* Test whether a caregiver intervention can be integrated into an MS clinical setting.
* Determine whether Caregiver outcomes are improved (depression, burden, anxiety, and number of Veteran MS problems and safety alerts reported).
* Determine whether Veteran outcomes are improved (Expanded Disability Status Scale, timed up and go test, self-efficacy, and depression).
* Determine which types of Caregivers will benefit most.
* Determine which types of Veterans will benefit most.
* Refine materials for future clinical research, translation and implementation.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 25
- Veteran being seen in MS clinic at Memphis VA
- Veteran ambulatory
- Caregiver/care partner who agrees to participate
- None
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Intervention Behavioral Behavioral intervention with caregivers to reduce stress and management of patient concerns, particularly ambulation
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Number of Patient MS Problems baseline, 6 months Caregiver primary outcome - number of possible troubling patient problems and concerns, range 0-27, lower better
Depression Measured With the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) Scale baseline, 6 months Caregiver primary outcome. PHQ-9, range 0-27, lower better
Burden Measured With the Zarit Burden Inventory baseline, 6 months Caregiver primary outcome. Zarit Burden Inventory, 12 item, 0-48, lower better
Anxiety Measured With the Generalized Anxiety Disorders 7 Scale baseline, 6 months Caregiver primary outcome. General Anxiety Disorders Scale - GAD-7, range 0-21, lower better
Bother With Patient MS Problems Baseline, 6 months Number of troubling patient problems or concerns that bother the caregiver, range 0-27, lower better
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN
🇺🇸Memphis, Tennessee, United States