NCT06318832

Optimizing a Wellbeing Program for Care-partners of Those With SCI

Optimizing a Wellbeing Program for Care-partners of Those With Spinal Cord Injury

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 154 (estimated)
• Sponsor: London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) have a devastating effect not only on individuals incurring the life changing event, but also on those who are involved in their care. Family care-partners of those with SCI (fcSCI) may experience significant negative effects including impaired mental health, high levels of burden, poor adjustment to role, decreased quality of life and strain on relationships. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment strategy that helps individuals recognize and challenge their unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that contribute to their mental health concerns. However, barriers such as availability to specialized care, costs, rural and remote location, or concerns about stigma may limit access to care. Internet delivered CBT (ICBT) has the potential to reach a much wider group of people that may have unequal access to health care. In a previous feasibility study, the team demonstrated the preliminary effectiveness of a tailored ICBT Wellbeing program for fcSCI. However, our understanding of which components of the program can result in optimal management is limited. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different components of the Wellbeing program including: therapist guidance, peer support groups, and booster sessions on symptoms of depression among fcSCI. The team will evaluate which intervention components result in meaningful improvement in symptoms of depression. Through collaborations with SCI community organizations and rehabilitation institutions, participants will be recruited across Canada. The researchers will also develop a model to examine the most cost-effective intervention package from the different components. The Wellbeing for fcSCI program can provide personalized service to individuals while being flexible and easily accessible, improving overall wellbeing and access to health care services.

Conditions

• Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Caregiver Burnout

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	ICBT	ICBT: Participants will receive the 10-week tailored ICBT Wellbeing program consists of 1) education about how taking on the role of care-partner can impact emotional and cognitive wellbeing through introduction to the CBT model; 2) structured problem solving; 3) cognitive therapy and thought challenging to manage one's wellbeing and impact of caregiving; 4) building communication and intimacy; 5) physical symptoms of depression (i.e., hypo-arousal), anxiety/anger (i.e., hyper-arousal); practicing behavioural activation and controlled relaxation; 6) overdoing-underdoing cycle of activity levels and issues around the fear avoidance of social, physical, and cognitive activities; practicing activity pacing and gradually tackling avoidance; 7) occurrence of setbacks in thought, physical, behavioural, and cognitive symptoms; signs of setbacks and creating setback plans.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-06-01
• Primary completion: 2024-06-01
• Completion: 2025-06-01
• First posted: 2024-03-19
• Last updated: 2024-03-19