title: Caregiving tasks and caregiver burden; effects of an psycho-educational intervention in partners of patients with post-operative heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of a psycho-educational intervention on caregiver burden in partners of patients with postoperative heart failure.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Since partners of cardiac surgery patients play a significant role in the patient's recovery, it is important to address their needs during hospitalization and after discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients with postoperative heart failure and their partners participated in a randomized controlled pilot study. Dyads in the intervention group received psycho-educational support from a multidisciplinary team. Dyads in the control group received usual care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found in the performance of caregiving tasks and perceived caregiver burden in the control versus the intervention group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A pilot study exploring the effects of a psycho-educational intervention in patients and their partners did not reveal significant effects with regard to reduced feelings of burden in partners. Alleviating caregiver burden in partners may need a more intense or specific approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Division of Nursing Sciences, Department of Cardiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ågren
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Division of Nursing Sciences, Department of Cardiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strömberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tiny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Division of Nursing Sciences, Department of Cardiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Research Group Nursing Diagnostics, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.l.a.luttik@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Marie Louise A
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Luttik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Depression; Education; Family; Heart failure; Postoperative complications; Psychosocial support; Quality of life