Stroke caregiver outcomes from the Telephone Assessment and Skill-Building Kit (TASK).
OBJECTIVE
Stroke caregivers often express the need for information about stroke and assistance with stroke-related care in the early discharge period. The Telephone Assessment and Skill-Building Kit (TASK) is an 8-week program that addresses caregiver needs. This study explored the efficacy of the TASK program in improving stroke caregiver outcomes.


METHODS
Guided by a conceptual model, 6 outcomes (optimism, task difficulty, threat appraisal, depressive symptoms, life changes, general health perceptions) were measured in 40 caregivers randomized to the TASK (n=21) or an attention control group (n=19). Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for baseline scores and minutes spent with the nurse.


RESULTS
Significant increases in optimism at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks were found, with medium effect sizes for the TASK group relative to the control group (p<.05). Significant improvements in task difficulty at 4 weeks, and threat appraisal at both 8 weeks and 12 weeks were also found (p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Caregivers receiving the TASK intervention improved in optimism, task difficulty, and threat appraisal. Further testing of an enhanced version of the TASK program is warranted, with attention directed toward more distal stroke caregiver outcomes.
Bakas
Tamilyn
T
Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Farran
Carol J
CJ
Austin
Joan K
JK
Given
Barbara A
BA
Johnson
Elizabeth A
EA
Williams
Linda S
LS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome