The REACH Intervention for Caregivers of Veterans and Service Members With TBI

University of Virginia160 enrolled

Overview

This randomized waitlist control trial will evaluate the effects of a psychoeducational intervention called Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers' Health - Traumatic Brain Injury (REACH TBI) to decrease caregiver strain (primary outcome) and improve caregiver self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, and health care frustrations (secondary outcomes). This study will modify and adapt an award-winning caregiver intervention, Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers Health in the Department of Veterans Affairs (REACH VA), to support the needs of Caregivers of Veterans and Service Members with TBI.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

160

Conditions

Traumatic Brain Injury Caregiver

Interventions

Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers' Health - Traumatic Brain Injury (REACH TBI) is a six-session, telephone intervention for Caregivers of Veterans and Services Members with TBI. The intervention focuses on problem solving training, stress management, and psychoeducation. Trained Program Coaches will deliver the REACH TBI intervention by meeting one-on-one via telephone with participants.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: To be eligible for the study, the participant must: * identify as a primary caregiver for a V/SM who sustained a TBI at least 6 months prior; * identify as a primary caregiver who has provided care for a V/SM with TBI for at least 6 months; * provide some level of daily supervision or assistance with either a physical, cognitive, or behavioral issue they think is likely related to TBI; * believe that at least half of their caregiving responsibilities are likely related to TBI rather than another health condition(s); and * endorse a score of at least high burden (a score of 8 or higher) on the Zarit Burden Inventory-4. Exclusion Criteria: * no telephone; * current diagnosis of schizophrenia or other major mental illness; * auditory impairment that would make telephone use difficult; or * the caregiver believes that more than half of their caregiving for the V/SM is for issues related to another health condition(s) rather than TBI.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

TBI-CareQOL Caregiver Strain - Short Form 6a

It assesses caregiver strain in caregivers of individuals with TBI. Values range from 6-30, with higher scores indicating greater strain/worse outcome.