Telephone Assessment and Skill-Building Kit (TASK): A New Program for Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2004-06-30

Study Completion Date

2007-09-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of this study is to test a new educational program for families taking care of persons who have had a stroke. Caregivers are asked what they think of the TASK program and how to make it better. After getting the TASK program, their ability to provide care will be compared with a group that did not receive the TASK program.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Telephone Assessment and Skill-Building Intervention for Stroke Caregivers

NCT01275495

Stroke Family Caregivers

COMPLETED PHASE3

Telehealth Assessment and Skill-Building Intervention for Stroke Caregivers (TASK III)

NCT05304078

Family Caregivers Stroke

RECRUITING NA

Telerehabilitation Early After Stroke

NCT05625438

Cerebral Stroke

RECRUITING NA

Improving Coordination and Transitions of Care in Stroke Patients

NCT02642744

Stroke Transient Ischemic Attack

COMPLETED NA

Problem-solving: A Stroke Caregiver Early Intervention

NCT01141738

Psychological Adaptation

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Stroke is the number one cause of long-term disability in the United States. Many people who have had a stroke need help from family members after they go home. Taking care of a stroke patient can be hard since they can be unable to walk, talk, see, or think clearly. Behavior problems, changes in personality, and depression are also common. Providing care for a family member with stroke can often lead to caregiver depression, social isolation, and health problems. Not having caregiving skills may be one reason for these problems. Programs are needed to help caregivers learn caregiving skills. Such skills include finding information about stroke, dealing with the stroke patient's emotions and behaviors, providing personal and other types of care, and taking care of oneself as a caregiver.

The National Institute of Nursing Research said that learning how to help families cope with a relatives' chronic illness is a very important area for research. The TASK program is an attempt to meet this need. If the TASK program appears to be helpful and usable in this small beginning study, we will then try to test the program more completely in a much larger research study.

The informed consent explains the purpose and procedures for the study. The purpose is to test the TASK program in a small group of family caregivers of persons who have had a stroke. Caregivers are assigned to either the TASK group or a second group. The TASK group will get the TASK notebook, and the second group will get a brochure from the American Stroke Association. Both groups will get a telephone call every week for 8 weeks from a nurse, each lasting about 30 minutes. At the beginning and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks there will be a longer interview lasting about an hour. Caregivers get a $20 Wal-Mart gift card for each of the 4 interview calls. Calls are made at times that are convenient for the caregiver. All calls are tape-recorded. No names are used on the tape recordings or on any of the interview questionnaires. There is a very small risk that some parts of the study may remind some caregivers of their own situations and may be stressful or upsetting. Caregivers may choose not to answer questions or may leave the study at any time. Taking part in the study is up to them. Benefits include getting a $20 Wal-Mart gift card after each long interview (up to $80 in Wal-Mart gift cards for all 4 interviews). Caregivers also get free written information about stroke and caregiving, and free calls from a nurse. Telephone numbers are provided for questions about the study, rights as a research participant, and who to contact for emotional distress.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors Stroke

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

1

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

TASK intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Telephone Assessment and Skill-building Kit (TASK) is an individualized 8-week intervention program geared toward reducing depression and improving general health in stroke caregivers.

2

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Attention Control

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Minimal intervention beyond initial hospital visit.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

TASK intervention

The Telephone Assessment and Skill-building Kit (TASK) is an individualized 8-week intervention program geared toward reducing depression and improving general health in stroke caregivers.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Attention Control

Minimal intervention beyond initial hospital visit.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* A family caregiver must (1) be an unpaid family member or friend of a stroke patient who has not been home from the hospital or nursing home more than 2 months, (2) be the main person who takes care of the stroke patient at home, (3) be able to read and speak English, (4) be able to talk and hear using the telephone, and (5) be willing to have 8 weekly calls from a nurse and 4 calls from a research assistant.

Exclusion Criteria

* We are unable to enroll caregivers or stroke survivors who (1) have a very serious illness and are expected to live no more than 6 months, (2) have severe mental illness, (3) have a history of alcohol or drug abuse, (4) are pregnant, (5) are prisoners or on house arrest, or (6) are living in a nursing home.

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes