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Internet-based Treatment for Informal Caregivers in Lithuania LINGI

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Caregiver Distress
Interventions
Behavioral: Intervention group LINGI
Registration Number
NCT04052724
Lead Sponsor
Linkoeping University
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate efficacy of internet intervention for informal caregivers in Lithuania in reducing their care-giving burden.

Detailed Description

Intervention is going to take a form of an Internet based Cognitive Behavioural Treatment program (ICBT) consisting of eight modules. These are the themes, as listed chronologically: Introduction, Thoughts, Stress and relaxation, Problem Solving, Communication, Anxiety, Behavioural Activation, Maintenance. These themes were chosen after considering topics which might be the most useful for someone in a role of an informal caregiver, considering the trans-diagnostic nature of the intervention.

Effect of the intervention will be compared against a wait-list control group. Intervention is in Lithuanian.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
63
Inclusion Criteria
  • must be 18 years old or over
  • fluent in comprehending, writing and reading Lithuanian language
  • score 24 or more points on the Caregiver Burden Inventory
  • spent at least last couple of months for providing care
  • must have internet access and ability to use computer or any other compatible device
Exclusion Criteria
  • adverse life experiences as identified by LEC
  • alcohol addiction
  • having severe physical or mental impairments
  • suicide risk
  • severe interpersonal violence
  • the person in need of care has life expectancy below or approximately around 6 months

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention group LINGIIntervention group LINGITrans-diagnostic, 8 module, 8 week long internet intervention for reducing informal caregiver burden
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change on Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI)Pre-treatment, week 4, week 8 and 12 months post-treatment

This measure is used to evaluate caregiver burden. CBI contains 24 questions that are distributed within 5 facets - Time Dependency, Emotional Health, Development, Physical Health and Social Relationships. Answer options are presented on a 5-item Likert scale and ranges from from 0 ('Never') to 4 ('Nearly Always'). Total score on CBI is summed up and ranges from 0 to 96, higher score indicating higher levels of burden experienced.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change on Perceived stress scale (PSS-14)Pre-treatment, week 8 and 12 months post-treatment

Measure will be used to evaluate levels of experienced stress. It contains 14 questions on a Likert scale ranging from 0 ('Never') to 4 ('Very Often'). Higher score indicates more severe symptoms.

Change on The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)Pre-treatment, week 4, week 8 and 12 months post-treatment

Measure will be used to evaluate depressive symptoms. It contains 9 questions that must be responded to by choosing an answer from 4-item Likert scale, where number 0 indicates 'Not at all' and 3 - 'Nearly every day'. Higher score indicates more severe symptoms.

Change on Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7)Pre-treatment, week 4, week 8 and 12 months post-treatment

Measure will be used to evaluate caregiver anxiety. GAD-7 contains 7 questions that must be responded to by choosing an answer from 4-item Likert scale, where number 0 indicates 'Not at all' and 3 - 'Nearly every day'. Higher score indicates more severe symptoms.

Change on World Health Organisation (WHO-5)Pre-treatment, week 8 and 12 months post-treatment

This questionnaire contains 5 statements regarding individual's well-being. Each of the statements must be evaluated using 6-item Likert scale with a score of 0 indicating 'At no time' while a score of 5 - 'All the time'. Higher score indicates higher well-being.

Change on The Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale (BBQ)Pre-treatment, week 8 and 12 months post-treatment

BBQ will be used for evaluating overall quality of life. It contains 12 statements ranging on a Likert scale from 0 - 'Strongly Disagree to 4 - 'Strongly Agree'. Higher score indicates higher quality of life.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University

🇸🇪

Linköping, Östergötland, Sweden

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