NCT06984770

The Family Cares Trial

Caring for the Caregiver: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (The Family Cares Trial)

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Lady Davis Institute · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this pilot study is to learn if virtual peer support groups and strengths-based skills training can help family caregivers of ICU survivors providing ongoing support to ICU survivors after hospital discharge. The main question it aims to answer is: \- Are virtual peer support groups and/or strengths-based skills support feasible and acceptable for family caregivers of ICU survivors? Researchers will compare the intervention group (virtual peer support groups or strengths-based skills training) to the control group (no intervention) to see if the interventions improve caregiver outcomes and assess feasibility and acceptability. Participants will: * Participate in either virtual peer support groups or strengths-based skills training sessions (if assigned to the intervention arm). * Provide feedback on the feasibility and acceptability of the interventions (if assigned to the intervention arm). * Complete surveys and follow-up questionnaires (either online or by phone) to measure outcomes.

Conditions

• Family Engagement
• Critical Care, Intensive Care
• Patient and Family Engagement
• Health Care Delivery
• Family-centered Care
• Pilot Study
• Caregiver
• Caregiver Burden
• Family Caregivers

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Virtual peer support group intervention	The virtual peer support group aims to improve emotional well-being, reduce isolation, and help caregivers cope by offering a safe space to share experiences and receive support from others facing similar caregiving demands.
BEHAVIORAL	Caregiver Support intervention	The caregiver support intervention is a personalized program designed to improve quality of life, reduce fatigue and caregiver burden, and build resilience.
OTHER	Resources	Participants will be given a list of resources to contact in case of emotional or psychological distress.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-01
• Primary completion: 2027-01-01
• Completion: 2027-08-01
• First posted: 2025-05-22
• Last updated: 2025-05-22

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Canada