A meta-analysis of interventions for informal stroke caregivers.
The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the interventions for improving mental health of caregivers of people with stroke by synthesizing individual studies. A meta-analysis was performed to summarize findings of intervention studies of caregivers of elderly stroke patients. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis and a publication bias were tested. The overall mean weighted effect size (MWES) for the four studies is 0.277 (Z = 3.432, p = .001) with a 95% CI .118 to .435 (N = 718) indicating that the intervention was effective in improving the mental health of informal stroke caregivers. The MWES for the education program was 0.354 (Z= 2.613, p < .01) and for the support program was .234 (Z = 2.335, p= .02). The MWES for the Europe study was .219 (Z= 2.613, p < .01) and for the United States was .922 (Z = 3.287, p = .001). The results show that overall interventions improved mental health of informal stroke caregivers. The small number of studies included in the meta-analysis limits the generalizability of results while supporting the need for more research in this area.
Lee
JuHee
J
University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD, USA. jlee@son.umaryland.edu
Soeken
Karen
K
Picot
Sandra J
SJ
D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005060:Europe; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012107:Research Design; D012144:Respite Care; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012944:Social Support; D020521:Stroke / Q000451:nursing*; D014481:United States