Documenting the need for teaching resourcefulness skills to family caregivers

Before pursuing randomized controlled trials to determine intervention effectiveness and translating interventions into clinical practice, the need for a specific intervention within a particular population must be established. This need can be determined by using established cut scores on validated measures of relevant constructs.

This study examined differences on caregiver burden and resourcefulness among family caregivers of adults with various health conditions to determine their need for resourcefulness training.

This cross-sectional study sampled 234 caregivers of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cancer, dementia, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and multiple or other conditions. They completed validated measures of caregiver burden and resourcefulness. Differences were examined using analysis of variance. Need for intervention was evaluated by comparison with established cut scores.

Caregivers differed significantly on caregiver burden (F = 2.46; p = .014) and resourcefulness (F = 2.08; p = .038). Across the groups, average caregiver burden scores indicated severe to very severe burden with caregivers of persons with stroke scoring the highest (M = 26.33) and a moderate or greater need for resourcefulness with the greatest needs in caregivers of persons with stroke, traumatic brain injury, and dementia (M's = 74.83, 72.31, and 77.12).

The findings suggest the need for intervention among all family caregiver groups to reduce their burden, with caregivers of persons with stroke showing greatest need. Specifically regarding resourcefulness training, the needs of family caregivers differed by care recipient condition. Using pre-determined cut scores on established, relevant measures provides support for proposing clinical trials, translation into practice, and intervention sustainability.