Trial of Benefit Finding in Caregivers: The Building Resources in Caregivers (BRiC) Study (BRiC)
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02444312 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : May 14, 2015
Last Update Posted : October 6, 2015
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Quality of Life Psychological Distress | Behavioral: Benefit-finding Writing Activity Behavioral: Neutral Writing Activity | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 88 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Triple (Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Randomised Controlled Trial of Benefit Finding in Caregivers: The Building Resources in Caregivers (BRiC) Study Protocol |
Study Start Date : | June 2015 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | October 2015 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | October 2015 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Benefit-finding Writing Activity
For two weeks, on six days of their choice, caregivers will be instructed to write about their thoughts and feelings in a diary/ notebook about the benefits of caring.
|
Behavioral: Benefit-finding Writing Activity
Caregivers will be instructed to write about the benefits of caring, considering things such as improved social relationship, appreciation of life and loved ones, and the positive consequences with respect to these. |
Active Comparator: Neutral Writing activity
For two weeks, on six days of their choice, caregivers will be instructed to write about a neutral topic.
|
Behavioral: Neutral Writing Activity
The control group will be instructed to write number of things about the weather that day. Although the sentences can be as long or as short as they like, they will be encouraged to try and aim for about 3 or 4 sentences at least. |
- Benefit Finding (Adapted version of the 17-item Benefit Finding Scale; Antoni et al., 2001) [ Time Frame: Baseline, immediate post-intervention (two weeks), and 3 months ]Used to assess change in benefit-finding levels over the course of the intervention and follow-up
- Caregiver Quality of Life (40 item Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire; Joseph, Becker, Elwick, & Silburn, 2012) [ Time Frame: Baseline, immediate post-intervention (two weeks), and 3 months ]This measures quality of life in eight separate domains: support for caring; caring choice; caring stress; money matters; personal growth; sense of value; ability to care; and carer satisfaction. Used to assess change in quality of life levels over the course of the intervention and follow-up
- Psychological Distress (Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale; Zigmond & Snaith, 1983) [ Time Frame: Baseline, immediate post-intervention (two weeks), and 3 months ]Used to assess change in psychological distress levels over the course of the intervention and follow-up, and as a moderator

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Must be over the age of 18
- Must identify as caring for a family member, friend or relative
- Must be living in Ireland
Exclusion Criteria:
- If the person cared for is living in institutional care

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02444312
Study Director: | Stephen Gallagher, PhD | University of Limerick, Department of Psychology | |
Principal Investigator: | Charles Brand, MSc | University of Limerick | |
Principal Investigator: | Brenda H O' Connell, B.A | University of Limerick |
Responsible Party: | Brenda O'Connell, Ms. Brenda O'Connell, University of Limerick |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02444312 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
BRiC2015 |
First Posted: | May 14, 2015 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | October 6, 2015 |
Last Verified: | October 2015 |
Caregiving Benefit Finding Writing Intervention |