Developing a psychoeducational programme for caregivers of people with intellectual disability

Area of Science:

• Healthcare
• Psychology
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Unpaid caregivers in Western Cape, South Africa, often lack compensation, education, and support.
• Individuals with intellectual disabilities rely heavily on these caregivers.
• No prior psychoeducational programs existed for this caregiver population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors contributing to caregiver distress.
• To develop and evaluate a psychoeducational program for caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods approach combining qualitative exploration and quantitative pre-test/post-test design.
• Likert-scale questionnaires assessed program impact.
• Paired t-tests analyzed pre- and post-intervention differences.

Main Results:

• 99% of respondents reported a positive impact on reducing caregiver distress.
• 85% felt better equipped to care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Significant increases in caregiver knowledge were observed.

Conclusions:

• The developed psychoeducational program effectively reduced caregiver distress.
• Findings offer valuable insights for healthcare professionals designing caregiver interventions.