Measuring the Effectiveness of Self-Care Sampler for Family Care Partners in Reducing Caregiver Stress

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center19 enrolled

Overview

To determine the effectiveness of the Self-care Sampler for Family Care Partners program in reducing caregiver stress over the 6-week program period. Hypothesis: Participants who attend the 6 class sessions over 6 weeks of the program will have a lower score on the Modified Caregiver Strain Index (MCSI) when compared to baseline. This will indicate a decrease in overall stress.

The 6-week Self-Care Sampler for Family Caregivers program was created to provide a variety of evidence-based self-care practices that improve the mental and physical health of caregivers by relieving stress and encouraging preventive health behaviors (Acton, 2002). To determine the effectiveness of the Self-care Sampler for Family Care Partners program in reducing caregiver stress over the 6-week program period. Hypothesis: Participants who attend the 6 class sessions over 6 weeks of the program will have a lower score on the Modified Caregiver Strain Index (MCSI) when compared to baseline. This will indicate a decrease in overall stress. For each 6-week program, sessions will take place once a week for 90 minutes, each starting with a centering exercise and focusing on a new form of self-care. The program gives caregivers a space to connect with others and form social bonds that could extend outside of our sessions. We will run the 6-week Self-Care Sampler for Family Caregivers program three times (three intervention periods) in 2022.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Caregiver Stress

Interventions

Self-Care Sampler for Family Carer PartnersBEHAVIORAL

The 6-week Self-Care Sampler for Family Caregivers program was created to provide a variety of evidence-based self-care practices that improve the mental and physical health of caregivers by relieving stress. Sessions will take place once a week for 90 minutes, each starting with a centering exercise and focusing on a new form of self-care. The first 30 minutes will be used for a support group and the last 60 minutes will be for a self-care practice. Self-care practices that will be offered throughout the 6 weeks include mindfulness, mindful drawing, exercise, and health prevention and promotion.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Any relative, partner, friend or neighbor who has a significant personal relationship with, and provides a broad range of assistance for, an older person or an adult with a chronic or disabling condition. Exclusion Criteria: * Those who cannot speak English which would prevent full participation * Those with hearing, vision, or cognitive impairment that prevents participation over video * Individuals who are not adults * Prisoners

Locations (1)

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Centers for Health and Aging

Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Stress, as measured by Modified Caregiver Strain Index change

This index includes questions that measure the perception of persistent problems and feelings of decreased well-being that results from providing prolonged care. Respondents will provide one of the following responses to each of 13 questions: * Yes, on a regular basis (2 points) * Yes, sometimes (1 point) * No (0 points) These questions will be presented to the participants in a survey prior to the program and after the program. Scoring ranges from 26 to 0 with a higher score indicates a higher level of caregiver strain.

Time frame: Baseline, week 1 change Post-Intervention, week 6

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.