Family-centered Support Program for Caregivers of Stroke Survivors

Family-centered Support Program for Caregivers of Stroke Survivors

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of a family-centered support program on the care burden, depressive symptoms, perceived social support, and quality of life of stroke survivor' caregivers and on care recipients' rehabilitation adherence and depressive symptoms.

The family-centered support program included stroke and rehabilitation education, problem-solving skills training, long-term care information support, and instant messaging applications-based 24-h peers-support group for caregivers.

Investigators hypothesized that (1) Compared with those in the control group, caregivers who undergo a family-centered support program have lower care burdens, do not have a high risk of depression, and perceive better social support and quality of life; (2) Compared with those in the control group, care recipients in the family-centered support group have ideal rehabilitation adherence and are not at a high risk of depression.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Caregivers:

   • Aged 20 years or older
   • Primarily responsible for caring for the stroke survivor in the hospital and after discharge.

2. Stroke survivors:

   • Diagnosed with moderate stroke (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale ≥5 or Modified Rank in Scale ≥3), including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, via computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging within one month. admitted to the stroke unit at a medical center
   • Had a primary family caregiver.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Caregivers:

   • Refusal to participate in the study
   • Unable to communicate, for example, non-Chinese speakers
   • Reported having been diagnosed with psychiatric illness (such as major depression) and undergoing treatment.

2. Stroke survivors:

   • Unstable vital signs
   • Terminal illness
   • Transfer to long-term care facilities after hospital discharge
   • Self-reported having been diagnosed with psychiatric illness (such as major depression) and undergoing treatment.