Trial of Benefit Finding in Caregivers: The Building Resources in Caregivers (BRiC) Study (BRiC)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02444312
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: May 14, 2015
• Last Update Posted: October 6, 2015
• Sponsor: University of Limerick
• Collaborators: Carolan Research Institute; Care Alliance Ireland
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Brenda O'Connell, University of Limerick

Study Description

Brief Summary:

A randomised controlled trial that will compare the effects of a brief benefit -finding writing intervention with an active control condition on quality of life and psychological health among informal caregivers.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Quality of Life; Psychological Distress	Behavioral: Benefit-finding Writing Activity; Behavioral: Neutral Writing Activity	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

A double-blind, randomized controlled parallel group study design with an equal 1:1 allocation ratio will be employed. This study will compare the effect of a brief benefit finding writing intervention with a control condition among caregivers. Caregivers currently caring for people with mental and physical disabilities will be randomised into a two-week, a) a benefit writing group or b) a control writing group. Caregivers will complete self-report measures relating to their care-recipient and themselves (e.g., illness type, and sociodemographics) and psychometric measures of benefit finding (primary outcome), psychological distress and quality of life(secondary outcomes). These will be assessed via online software at baseline, immediate post-test and at 3 month follow-up. Additionally, expectations and fidelity indices will be assessed and qualitative commentary on participation experiences gathered.

Study Design

• 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

Arms and Interventions

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.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. 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

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. 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
2. 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

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

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

Contacts and Locations

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Limerick

Carolan Research Institute

Care Alliance Ireland

Investigators

• 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

More Information

• 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
• Last Update Posted: October 6, 2015
• Last Verified: October 2015

Keywords provided by Brenda O'Connell, University of Limerick:

Caregiving; Benefit Finding; Writing Intervention