An E-health Letter Intervention for Caregivers
- Conditions
- CaregiversAcquired Brain Injury
- Interventions
- Behavioral: 90Second Caregiver health letter
- Registration Number
- NCT05882461
- Lead Sponsor
- IWK Health Centre
- Brief Summary
The purpose of the present study is to conduct a two-arm Randomized Control Trial (RCT) comparing individuals receiving the 90Second Caregiver health letter, with a usual care (routine care received by caregivers) control group.
The goals of the present study are:
* To evaluate the effectiveness of the 90Second Caregiver health letter in improving caregiver's self-efficacy (primary outcome), savouring, and quality of life (secondary outcomes).
* To evaluate the effectiveness of the 90Second Caregiver health letter in reducing caregiver's psychological strain and caregiver burden (secondary outcomes).
* To examine the impact of levels of engagement with the 90Second Caregiver health letter on primary and secondary outcomes.
* To assess the usability of the 90Second Caregiver health letter, as it relates to the relevance of topic, user friendliness, and appropriateness of the readability levels.
* To evaluate psychometric properties of self-constructed measures in 90Second newsletter.
- Detailed Description
The present study will examine the effectiveness of the 90Second Caregiver health letter in increasing self-efficacy in a sample of informal caregivers of ABI survivors in Nova Scotia. Participants in this study will be recruited from the Caring Forward Trials within Cohort Study (REB#1025253). The study is funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 330
- Participant is currently enrolled in the Caring Forward Trials within Cohort study (REB#1025253)
- Participant has agreed to be contacted for future studies by Dr. McGrath's staff
- Participant has agreed for their data to be used for future studies
- Participant has mild levels of distress, as indicated by mild scores on the DASS-21 and/or the ZBI-SF
- Participant is NOT currently enrolled in the Caring Forward Trials within Cohort study (REB#1025253)
- Participant has NOT agreed to be contacted for future studies by Dr. McGrath's staff
- Participant has NOT agreed for their data to be used in future studies
- Participant does NOT report mild levels of distress, as indicated by mild scores on the DASS-21 and/or the ZBI-SF
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Those receiving the 90Second Caregiver health letter 90Second Caregiver health letter The 90Second Caregiver health letter is a weekly online publication that addresses topics relevant for caregivers. It combines scientifically-valid, evidence-based information with actionable tips to improve caregiver self efficacy and well-being. Participant in this group will receive a 90Second Caregiver health letter every week, via email.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Caregiving self-efficacy [Time Frame: Twenty four months following baseline.] The Controlling Upsetting Thoughts about Caregiving subscale from the 15-item Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (RSCSE; Steffen et al. 2002), that measure caregivers level of confidence with higher scores indicating higher levels of self-efficacy.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Savouring [Time Frame: Twenty four months following baseline.] The Savouring Configuration Inventory (SCI; Lauzon \& Green-Demers, 2020), which measures hedonic savouring, and eudaimonic savouring of meaning of life, spirituality, self-reflection, inspiration, appreciation, and gratitude. It comprises 28 scenarios (4 subscales), paired with a single item.
Psychological strain [Time Frame: Twenty four months following baseline.] The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21; Lovibond \& Lovibond, 1995), a 21-item self-report measure that will assess caregiver's levels of psychological strain over the last week in three distinct categories; depression (e.g. hopelessness, depressed mood), anxiety (e.g. fear, anticipation of negative events), and stress (e.g. prolonged state of arousal, difficulty relaxing).
Caregiver burden [Time Frame: Twenty four months following baseline.] The Zarit Burden Interview-Short Form (ZBI-SF; Bedard et al., 2001), a 12-item measure that assesses individuals' perceived burden of providing care to their loved one.
Overall quality of life and general health [Time Frame: Twenty four months following baseline.] The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment -BREF (WHOQOL-BREF; Whoqol Group, 1998), a 26-item measure that assesses quality of life in four distinct domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships and the environment. A weighted summary score from 0-100 is calculated for each domain, with higher scores indicating higher quality of life.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
IWK Health Centre
🇨🇦Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada