Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, quality of life, self-efficacy, coping, carer strain and carer satisfaction among stroke survivors, carers and survivor-carer dyads.
Background and Purpose: Stroke can have a devastating impact on the mental and physical health of stroke survivors and their carers. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel psychosocial intervention designed to improve health outcomes in both groups.
Methods:We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a personalized psychosocial intervention (8 one hour weekly sessions plus 1 booster) compared to usual care for adult stroke survivors and carers. Participants recruited from hospital services and community referrals completed questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Primary outcomes were quality of life and self-efficacy; secondary outcomes were depressive and anxiety symptoms, coping, illness perception, work and social adjustment, carer strain and carer satisfaction.Mixed-effect model repeated measures analysis between groups and across time was conducted.Results: Of the 173 participants recruited (89 stroke survivors; 84 carers), a total of 137 participants -73 stroke survivors (intervention n=42; usual care n=31) and 64 carers (intervention n=35; usual care n=29) -underwent analysis up to 12 months. No statistically significant differences were found in the primary outcomes between groups over time, though a significant improvement in carer satisfaction was found at 6 months in the intervention group compared to the usual care group.
Conclusion:A personalized psychosocial intervention resulted in a significant improvement in carer satisfaction at 6 months but in no other outcomes. A lack of available services and barriers to social engagement may have impeded the effectiveness of this intervention.
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