A problem solving intervention for hospice caregiver

Project Abstract

Hospice caregivers face unique challenges as they provide care to individuals at the end of life. The emotional, physical, and psychological demands of caregiving can lead to increased stress, burnout, and decreased quality of life for the caregiver. In response to these challenges, problem-solving interventions have been developed to provide caregivers with the skills and strategies needed to cope effectively with the demands of caregiving. This research project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a problem-solving intervention for hospice caregivers. The intervention will include training in problem-solving skills, stress management techniques, and emotional support. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with hospice caregivers who will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a control group. Caregivers in the intervention group will participate in a series of problem-solving sessions over a period of several weeks, while caregivers in the control group will receive standard care. The outcomes of interest include caregiver stress, burnout, quality of life, and coping strategies. These outcomes will be measured using validated scales and questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments. It is hypothesized that caregivers who participate in the problem-solving intervention will experience reductions in stress and burnout, improvements in quality of life, and increased used of effective coping strategies compared to caregivers in the control group. The findings from this study will provide valuable information about the effectiveness of problem-solving interventions for hospice caregivers. If the intervention is found to be effective, it could be implemented in hospice settings to support caregivers and improve their well-being. By equipping caregivers with the skills and strategies needed to cope with the challenges of caregiving, problem-solving interventions have the potential to enhance the quality of care provided to individuals at the end of life and improve the overall caregiving experience.

Project Overview

<p> </p><div><p>This four year randomized controlled study, A Problem Solving Intervention for Hospice Caregiver, builds on recent research that has revealed that stress and caregiver burden can negatively impact morbidity and mortality among informal caregivers of hospice patients. Problem solving therapy (PST) has been tested and found effective when delivered to family caregivers of physically or cognitively impaired older adults, caregivers of patients with dementia and traumatic brain injury. PST delivered specifically to hospice caregivers holds great promise but has not been studied extensively. Building on an early pilot study that found promise in the use of videophone technology to deliver a problem solving therapy intervention for informal caregivers of home hospice patients (i.e., family members and/or friends who assume the caregiving responsibility), this study seeks to fully evaluate the PST intervention for hospice caregivers. Hospice caregivers will be randomly assigned to a group receiving standard hospice care with the addition of educational phone calls (attention control group) or a group receiving standard hospice care with the addition of the problem solving intervention delivered over the phone (intervention group 1) or a group receiving standard hospice care with the addition of the problem solving intervention delivered over the videophone (intervention group 2). The four specific aims of the study are: 1) to assess the impact of PST on caregiver quality of life, problem solving ability, and caregiver anxiety; 2) to compare the effectiveness of the PST intervention delivered via telephone and via videophone; 3) to assess the caregivers’ perceptions of and satisfaction with the videophone as a communication mode for the PST intervention; and 4) to evaluate the cost effectiveness of the problem solving intervention.</p><p></p></div><h3></h3><br> <br><p></p>