title: A meta-analysis of interventions for informal stroke caregivers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD, USA. jlee@son.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: JuHee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soeken
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Picot
mesh_terms: 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