Supporting Older Spousal Caregivers Who Care for a Partner With Multimorbidity at Home

NCT ID: NCT06229431

Last Updated: 2024-02-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 180 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-12-31

Brief Summary

Research problem and specific questions:

This project aims to evaluate the person-centred Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention (C SNAT-I), in Swedish "Ditt behov av stöd". The project goal is to promote preparedness, quality of life and health for older spousal caregivers (≥65 years) who care for a partner (≥65years) with multimorbidity at home.

Data, method and plan for realisation:

With a cluster randomised controlled design in a primary health care context the C SNAT-I will be tested. The intervention consists of two parts, an evidence-based tool and a personcentred five stage process to proactively identify and address caregivers needs: 1) introduction of the CSNAT tool comprising 16 questions about the need for support, 2) caregiver consideration and reflection on support needs, 3) an assessment conversation between the caregiver and a nurse, 4) a shared action plan is formed and 5) continuous review of support needs and action plan. Primary health care centres will be randomized to intervention or control arm. Multiple research methods for data collection and analyses will be used. In total 180 caregivers will be recruited for one year and data collected at baseline, 8 and 16 weeks later.

Detailed Description

Research problem and specific questions: This project aims to evaluate the person-centred Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention (CSNAT-I), in Swedish "Ditt behov av stöd". The project goal is to promote preparedness, quality of life and health for older spousal caregivers (≥65 years) who care for a partner (≥65 years) with multimorbidity at home.

Data, method and plan for realisation: With a cluster randomised controlled design in a primary health care context the CSNAT-I will be tested. The intervention consists of two parts, an evidence-based tool and a person-centred five stage process to proactively identify and address caregivers needs: 1) introduction of the CSNAT tool comprising 16 questions about the need for support, 2) caregiver consideration and reflection on support needs, 3) an assessment conversation between the caregiver and a nurse, 4) a shared action plan is formed and 5) continuous review of support needs and action plan. Primary health care centres will be randomized to intervention or control arm. Multiple research methods for data collection and analyses will be used. In total 180 caregivers will be recruited for one year and data collected at baseline, 8 and 16 weeks later. The realisation of the project is strengthened by previous research and the current collaboration between researchers at four universities, the Academic Primary Health Care Centre, Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, a care consultant and a caregiver representative.

Social relevance and utilisation: National and international studies have shown the CSNAT-I to be beneficial for both family caregivers and health care professionals in specialised home care. The CSNAT tool and a training toolkit for health care professionals including guidance about how to work with the intervention is available in Swedish. The intervention is successfully tested in specialised palliative home care in Sweden. Given older spousal caregivers need of support, it is vital to evaluate the CSNAT-I in the new context of primary home health care. This is important as primary health care is emphasized as the foundation stone in Swedish health care according to the national guidelines of "Nära vård". The project ties in with the first "Nationella anhörigstrategi" which aims at promoting support for family caregivers. If preparedness, quality of life and health is found to be promoted, the CSNAT-I can be used to support older caregivers proactively and systematically.

Conditions

Family Members; Home Care Services; Support, Family

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

CSNAT intervention

District nurses will be trained to use the CSNAT-I on family caregivers to persons with multimorbidity at home.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention (CSNAT-I)

Intervention Type: OTHER

The CSNAT tool The tool includes 16 questions about the need for more support.

The five-stage person-centered approach

In the present study, the CSNAT-I consist of at least two meetings between the older spousal caregiver and the district nurse,1-4 weeks apart, following 5 stages:

1. Introduction of the CSNAT tool as a conversation starter.

2. Time for the spousal caregiver to consider the questions in which more support is needed.

3. An assessment conversation takes place.

4. A shared action plan is formed based on the assessment conversation.

5. Continuous shared review of the action plan.

Control

Standard support and care.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention (CSNAT-I)

The CSNAT tool The tool includes 16 questions about the need for more support.

The five-stage person-centered approach

In the present study, the CSNAT-I consist of at least two meetings between the older spousal caregiver and the district nurse,1-4 weeks apart, following 5 stages:

1. Introduction of the CSNAT tool as a conversation starter.

2. Time for the spousal caregiver to consider the questions in which more support is needed.

3. An assessment conversation takes place.

4. A shared action plan is formed based on the assessment conversation.

5. Continuous shared review of the action plan.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Older spousal caregivers, who cares for a partner (≥65 years) diagnosed with multimorbidity and admitted to primary home health care, are to be included in the study. Caregivers should be ≥65 years and understand and speak the Swedish language.

Exclusion Criteria

-

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Ersta Sköndal University College

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Maria Norinder

Project coordinator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Anette Alvariza, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Marie Cedershiöld University

Locations

Marie Cederschiöld University

Stockholm, , Sweden

Countries

Sweden

Other Identifiers

ErstaSUC3

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id