Care partner problem solving training (CP-PST) for care partners of adults with traumatic brain injury during inpatient rehabilitation: Study protocol for a multisite, randomized, single-blind clinical feasibility trial

Multisite randomized feasibility study of Problem-Solving Training for care partners of adults with traumatic brain injury during inpatient rehabilitation

BACKGROUND

Problem-Solving Training (PST) during inpatient rehabilitation could provide care partners the skills needed to manage their life roles after discharge.

OBJECTIVE

Determine the feasibility of PST+ Education versus Education for care partners of adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) during inpatient rehabilitation.

METHODS

We conducted a multisite randomized feasibility trial across three sites. We present recruitment rates, reasons for refusal to participate, and reasons for non-completion of interventions. We measured client satisfaction, participant engagement, and fidelity for both interventions. We compared change in depressive symptoms and caregiver burden between PST and Education groups.

RESULTS

Though the interventions were generally feasible, recruitment and retention rates were lower than anticipated largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants who completed >3 sessions were less likely to be employed full-time and more often spouses and co-residing. Length of inpatient rehabilitation stay was correlated with number of sessions completed. We observed potential benefits of PST over Education, specifically for reducing depression symptoms and caregiver burden.

CONCLUSION

High satisfaction, engagement, and fidelity, overall recruitment and retention, and positive change in outcomes suggest that PST is generally feasible and beneficial for care partners of persons with TBI. Adaptations, such as developing a 3-session version of PST, could improve feasibility.

Feasibility of Problem-Solving Training During Inpatient Rehabilitation in Patients With Stroke

IMPORTANCE

Stroke survivors report feeling unprepared to manage challenges that arise during the transition from hospital to home. Cultivating problem-solving skills before discharge may better prepare patients for the transition home.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the feasibility of a protocol to deliver Problem-Solving Training (PST) to stroke survivors during inpatient rehabilitation to increase goal achievement.

DESIGN

Single-group feasibility study.

SETTING

Academic and county hospital inpatient rehabilitation units.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients with stroke and planned discharge home.

INTERVENTION

Up to six PST sessions over 2 to 3 wk followed by 3 mo of mobile health boosters.

RESULTS

Of 17 eligible participants, 15 consented and 11 completed three or more PST sessions. Six participants used electronic boosters, achieving at least one goal postdischarge. Participants reported high satisfaction with PST (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 M score = 29.3, SD = 4.4; range = 8-32), moderate depression at baseline (eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-8] score, M = 11.0, SD = 6.1; range = 0-27), mild depression at 3 mo postdischarge (PHQ-8 score, M = 8.3, SD = 5.5), moderately high self-efficacy at baseline (General Self-Efficacy Scale [GSE] score, M = 31.1, SD = 7.3; range = 10-40), and a self-efficacy increase at 3 mo postdischarge (GSE score, M = 34.1, SD = 4.2).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

PST among patients with stroke during inpatient rehabilitation was feasible, and participants demonstrated improvements in clinical outcomes and goal attainment. Barriers to participation and adherence should be addressed in future studies. What This Article Adds: Teaching patients problem-solving skills early after a stroke using a metacognitive strategy is feasible and may decrease depression and increase self-efficacy while fostering independent goal setting and problem solving.

Caregiver Characteristics of Adults with Acute Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States and Latin America

Objectives: To compare characteristics of caregivers of adults with acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the U.S. and Latin America (Mexico and Colombia). Design: Secondary data analysis of two cohorts. Cohort 1: English-speaking caregivers of adults with TBI in the U.S. (n = 80). Cohort 2: Spanish-speaking caregivers of adults with TBI in Mexico or Colombia (n = 109). Results: Similarities between the U.S. and Latin American caregiver groups, respectively, were: predominantly women (81.3%, 81.7%, respectively); spouses/domestic partners (45%, 31.2%); and motor vehicle accident (41.5%, 48.6%) followed by fall etiologies (40%, 21.1%). Differences between U.S. and Latin American caregivers were: age (49.5 years, 41.5 years, p < 0.001); employment status ((Χ52 = 59.63, p < 0.001), full-time employment (63.7%, 25.7%), homemaker (2.5%, 31.2%), and retired (17.5%, 1.8%)); violence-related etiology (2.5%, 15.6%); and severity of depressive symptoms (M = 7.9, SD = 5.8; M = 5.8, SD = 5.7; p = 0.014). Conclusions: TBI caregivers in the U.S. were older and employed full-time or retired more often than those in Latin America. Violence-related etiology was nearly five times more common in Latin America, raising concerns for potential implications of post-traumatic stress and family adjustment after injury. Although both groups likely could use mental health support, this was particularly true of the U.S. cohort, maybe due to differential demographics, mechanisms of injury, or family and community support.

Linking Problems Reported by Care Partners of Individuals With Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia to the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health

Aim

This study aims to classify, describe, and compare the problems reported by care partners of adults with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD) using the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF)

Methods

Problems that care partners experience were collected during a problem-solving training intervention. The meaningful concepts were then extracted and linked to the ICF using a standardized linking technique.

Results

402 meaningful concepts were extracted from 128 problems reported by care partners. 79.4% of the concepts were linkable to the ICF. “Body functions” was most frequently addressed followed by “Activities and participation.” LBD care partners reported more problems (M = 23.6 ± 13.4) on average than AD care partners (M = 19.4 ± 12.1). LBD care partners reported greater relative proportions of problems in mental function (emotional and sleep functions) than AD care partners.

Conclusion

This study suggests that the experience of LBD care partners may include significantly more challenges and may be more emotionally demanding than the care experience of AD care partners. Interventions designed to support care partners of adults with dementia may need to be tailored to meet the needs of care partners based on the care receiver’s type of dementia.

Bilingual problem-solving training for caregivers of adults with dementia: A randomized, factorial-design protocol for the CaDeS trial

OBJECTIVE

Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) often experience debilitating caregiver burden and emotional distress. To address these negative emotional consequences of caregiving, we will test and refine a strategy training intervention - Problem-Solving Training (PST) - that promotes self-efficacy and reduces caregiver burden and depressive symptoms. Previous research supports efficacy of PST; however, we do not know exactly how many PST sessions are needed or if post-training "boosters" are required to maintain PST benefits. Additionally, we translated and culturally-adapted PST into "Descubriendo Soluciones Juntos" (DSJ), our novel intervention for Spanish-speaking caregivers.

METHOD

In this 2 × 2 factorial design randomized controlled trial, we will test remotely-delivered PST/DSJ sessions for both English- and Spanish-speaking caregivers of persons with ADRD to determine the optimal number of PST/DSJ sessions and ongoing "booster" sessions needed to best help caregivers navigate their current and future needs.

AIMS

1) Compare the efficacy of three vs. six PST/DSJ sessions each with and without booster sessions for decreasing caregiver burden and depression and enhancing caregiver problem-solving; 2) Identify key factors associated with efficacy of PST/DSJ, including age, gender, primary language, relationship to care recipient, and uptake of the PST/DSJ strategy.

RESULTS

These results will establish guidelines needed for an evidence-based, culturally-adapted, and implementable problem-solving intervention to reduce caregiver stress and burden and improve caregiver health and well-being.

CONCLUSION

This work promotes inclusion of diverse and underserved populations and advances therapeutic behavioral interventions that improve the lives of caregivers of individuals with chronic conditions.

Feasibility Study of Problem-Solving Training for Care Partners of Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Burn Injury, or Stroke During the Inpatient Hospital Stay

OBJECTIVE

To determine the feasibility of delivering an evidence-based self-management intervention, problem-solving training (PST), to care partners of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), burn injury, or stroke during the inpatient hospital stay.

DESIGN

In this single group pre-post intervention pilot feasibility study.

SETTING

Inpatient rehabilitation or acute care and community.

PARTICIPANTS

Care partners (spouse or partner, family member, friend who is in any way responsible for the health or well-being of the care recipient) of individuals with TBI, SCI, burn injury, or stroke (N=39).

INTERVENTION

PST is a metacognitive self-management intervention that teaches individuals a global strategy for addressing self-selected problems. Participants received up to 6 sessions of PST in person or via telephone during their care recipient's inpatient stay.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We measured feasibility of recruitment, intervention delivery, and postintervention use of a smartphone app (Care Partner Problem Solving [CaPPS]) and participant satisfaction (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire [CSQ]) and engagement (Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale [PRPS]) with the intervention.

RESULTS

Of 39 care partners approached, n=10 (25.6%) were ineligible. Of n=29 (74.4%) who were eligible, n=17 (58.6%) refused, and n=12 (41.4%) consented, of whom n=8 (66.7%) completed ≥3 PST sessions. Not perceiving any benefit was the most common reason for refusal, followed by no interest in research. Participants were very satisfied with PST (CSQ mean=3.35, SD=0.60), reported strong working alliance (Working Alliance Inventory mean=6.8, SD=3.1), and demonstrated very good engagement (PRPS mean=4.75, SD=1.41). CaPPS was downloaded and used by only n=3 participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Delivering a self-management intervention to care partners during the care recipient's acute hospital stay is feasible for a subset of potential participants. Short lengths of stay, language fluency, and perceiving no potential benefit were noted barriers. Boosters via smartphone app have potential, but several barriers must first be overcome.