Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J80944

Journal:

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

, 100, 4 (Supplement 1), S65-S75

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study investigated the effectiveness of a 5-session manualized intervention for addressing needs of caregivers of individuals in acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation. Ninety-three patients with moderate-to-severe TBI and their family members were enrolled in the study, with 42 randomized to the treatment group and 51 to the control group. For the treatment group, the interventionist met individually with each caregiver for three 1-hour intervention sessions with educational, stress and anxiety self-management, coping, and emotional support components. In addition, caregivers completed 2 post-discharge intervention sessions at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the patient’s discharge. For the control group, caregivers and their injured family members received standard rehabilitation services, including educational materials unrelated to the inpatient intervention. Data on the Family Needs Questionnaire-Revised, knowledge assessment, Zarit Family Burden Scale, and Brief Symptom Inventory-18 were collected at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. Treatment -group caregivers showed an increase in met needs for emotional, instrumental, and professional support, and brain injury knowledge from baseline to posttreatment, whereas controls did not. Between-group differences were significant for only emotional support needs. Treatment effects were not sustained at 3-month follow-up. Findings suggest that caregivers of patients undergoing acute TBI rehabilitation may benefit from interventions that target their unique needs. Caregivers may require additional and longer-term supports to sustain treatment benefits.

Author(s):

Niemeier, Janet P.|Kreutzer, Jeffrey S.|Marwitz, Jennifer H.|Sima, Adam P.|

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