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

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Quality of Life; Psychological Distress
• Interventions: Behavioral: Neutral Writing Activity; Behavioral: Benefit-finding Writing Activity

• Registration Number: NCT02444312
• Lead Sponsor: University of Limerick

Brief Summary

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

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.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2015-05-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-05-13
• Study First Posted: 2015-05-14
• Study Start: 2015-06
• Status Verified: 2015-10
• Primary Completion: 2015-10
• Study Completion: 2015-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-10-05
• Last Update Posted: 2015-10-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 88

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Neutral Writing activity	Neutral Writing Activity	For two weeks, on six days of their choice, caregivers will be instructed to write about a neutral topic.
Benefit-finding Writing Activity	Benefit-finding Writing Activity	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.

Primary Outcome Measures

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

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Psychological Distress (Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale; Zigmond & Snaith, 1983)	Baseline, immediate post-intervention (two weeks), and 3 months	Used to assess change in psychological distress levels over the course of the intervention and follow-up, and as a moderator
Caregiver Quality of Life (40 item Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire; Joseph, Becker, Elwick, & Silburn, 2012)	Baseline, immediate post-intervention (two weeks), and 3 months	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