A Psychosocial Intervention for Bereaved Spousal Caregivers of Persons With Dementia

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Dementia; Bereavement
• Interventions: Behavioral: the Reclaiming Yourself tool

• Registration Number: NCT02672800
• Lead Sponsor: University of Saskatchewan

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a writing intervention (Reclaiming Yourself), intended to facilitate bereavement for spousal caregivers whose partners died with dementia.

Detailed Description

The current research is part 3 of a multi-phase project, whose purpose was to examine the experience of bereavement for spousal caregivers to persons with dementia. Based on spouses' shared experiences and the input of experts in the field (i.e. bereavement/dementia researchers, health care providers), an existing writing intervention called the Finding Balance tool was adapted from the context of cancer bereavement to that of dementia.

The purpose of this third phase is to test this adapted writing intervention (Reclaiming Yourself) with bereaved spouses of persons with dementia. Participants will be randomly assigned into one of two groups: treatment (who will receive the tool); and control (who will not be offered the tool until a later stage). The feasibility and acceptability of the intervention will be assessed, as well as the degree to which it facilitated participants' bereavement, ability to find balance, and psychological health.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2016-01-28
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-02-01
• Study First Posted: 2016-02-03
• Study Start: 2016-03
• Primary Completion: 2017-12
• Study Completion: 2018-03
• Status Verified: 2018-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-05-01
• Last Update Posted: 2018-05-04

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 16

Inclusion Criteria

• bereaved for three months or longer
• were a caregiver for their spouse with advanced dementia
• English speaking
• willing and able to share their bereavement experience

Exclusion Criteria

• those with other than a spousal relationship to the person with dementia
• spousal caregivers of persons with another terminal disease
• those bereaved less than 3 months
• those unable to provide consent

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Writing intervention	the Reclaiming Yourself tool	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Inventory of Daily Widowed Life (IDWL)- change at 1 and 2 months post-intervention	The measure will be administered pre-intervention, 1 month following the introduction of the intervention, and 2 months following the introduction of the intervention	Measure of finding balance in bereavement
Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, Present Feelings- change at 1 and 2 months post-intervention	The measure will be administered pre-intervention, 1 month following the introduction of the intervention, and 2 months following the introduction of the intervention	Measure of grief
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale- Revised (CESD-R)- change at 1 and 2 months post-intervention	The measure will be administered pre-intervention, 1 month following the introduction of the intervention, and 2 months following the introduction of the intervention	Measure of depressive symptoms

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Semi-structured qualitative evaluation interviews	Post intervention (after 1 month)	Measure of the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Saskatchewan; 🇨🇦 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada