A Study of the EMPOWER Program for Latinx Caregivers of ICU Patients

Pilot Feasibility of the Cultural Adaptation of EMPOWER for Latinx Informal Caregivers in Intensive Care Units in the Context of COVID-19

The researchers are doing this study to find out whether EMPOWER (Enhancing & Mobilizing the Potential for Wellness & Emotional Resilience) may reduce emotional distress in Latinx caregivers of patients in the ICU.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Informal caregivers of patients, who were admitted in an ICU or step-down unit during their current admission/stay or within 2 weeks of discharge from their last admission/stay.

• Informal caregivers listed as a designated health care proxy or decision-making patient surrogate by ICU medical staff.

• Age 18 years or older as per self-report.

• Residing in New York or New Jersey as per self-report or able to complete modules while complying with current telehealth regulations.

• Spanish-speaking as per the Spanish language assessment items below and willing to receive the intervention in Spanish.

  • What is the participant's preferred language?
  • (Specify Lang)___________________________
  • How well does the participant speak Spanish?
  • Very well (PARTICIPANT IS ELIGIBLE)
  • Well (PARTICIPANT is ELIGIBLE)
  • Not well (PARTICIPANT is NOT ELIGIBLE)
  • Not at all (PARTICIPANT is NOT ELIGIBLE)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Informal caregivers who score low, moderate or high on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.