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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Sep;38(18):1780-90.
doi: 10.3109/09638288.2015.1107767. Epub 2015 Dec 17.

Tracking patterns of needs during a telephone follow-up programme for family caregivers of persons with stroke

Tamilyn Bakas  1   2 , Nenette M Jessup  3 , Susan M McLennon  1 , Barbara Habermann  4 , Michael T Weaver  5 , Gwendolyn Morrison  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Tracking patterns of needs during a telephone follow-up programme for family caregivers of persons with stroke

Tamilyn Bakas et al. Disabil Rehabil. 2016 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: Programmes that address stroke family caregiver needs and skill-building are recommended based on the literature and patient care guidelines for stroke rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to explore patterns of perceived needs and skill-building during a stroke caregiver intervention programme.

Method: Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data from 123 stroke caregivers enrolled in the intervention group of a randomised controlled clinical trial. Caregivers received eight weekly telephone sessions, with a booster session a month later. At each session, the Caregiver Needs and Concerns Checklist (CNCC) was used to identify and prioritise current needs that were then addressed through skill-building strategies.

Results: Perceived needs changed over time. Information about stroke was the highest priority need during Session 1. Managing survivor emotions and behaviours was the highest priority for Sessions 2 through 4. Caregivers generally waited until Sessions 5 through 9 to address their own emotional and physical health needs. Physical and instrumental care needs were relatively low but stable across all nine sessions. Skill-building was consistently high, though it peaked during Sessions 2 and 3.

Conclusions: Tracking patterns of needs and skill-building suggest appropriate timing for targeting different types of family caregiver support during stroke rehabilitation. Implications for Rehabilitation Family caregivers of stroke survivors play an essential role in the rehabilitation process of the stroke survivor. Identifying and addressing the priority needs and concerns of stroke caregivers during the early discharge period enables caregivers to provide sustained support for the stroke survivor. Rehabilitation professionals are in a key position to address evolving caregiver needs and concerns as they transition to home settings with follow-up care.

Keywords: Behaviour; caregiver; clinical trials; family; stress; stroke.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no other conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patterns of priority needs and skill-building strategies over the 9 calls based on frequencies (N=123)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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