The proposed study will examine the effects of a home-based problem-solving intervention for family caregivers of women with physical disability. The care recipients and their caregivers will be recruited and randomly assigned to a problem-solving intervention group (n=60 dyads) or a control group (n=60 dyads). Caregivers assigned to the problem solving intervention will be seen in face-to-face training sessions with an Interventionist in their homes in the first month of the project, and again at four-month, eight month, and twelve month intervals. Problem-solving training for the intervention group will also occur during monthly telephone interactions with the Interventionist. Caregivers assigned to the control group will receive educational materials and monthly telephone contacts from the Project Nurse; they will not receive problem-solving training. Standard educational materials regarding disability and caregiver issues will be mailed to participants in both groups. A Data Collection Specialist will assess caregiver and care recipient adjustment in face-to-face assessments conducted prior to activity in either the intervention or control group; subsequent assessments will be repeated at four month, eight month, and twelve month intervals. Caregiver problem-solving abilities will also be measured. Structural equation modeling and other regression/inferential analyses will be used to examine the predicted effects of problem solving training on caregiver depression, health complaints, caregiver burden, and life satisfaction over the year. The proposed project will: a) demonstrate how caregiver problem-solving abilities mediate the relationship between care giving duties and care recipient adjustment to caregiver health, depression, and life satisfaction and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based, problem-solving intervention for family caregivers. This information will help us (a) identify family caregivers who are at risk for adverse emotional and health outcomes, (b) evaluate the effectiveness of problem solving intervention for family caregivers, and (c) determine the characteristics of caregivers who respond favorably to a home-based problem-solving intervention.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD037661-04
Application #
6850008
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-3 (01))
Program Officer
Quatrano, Louis A
Project Start
2002-03-18
Project End
2007-02-28
Budget Start
2005-03-01
Budget End
2006-02-28
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$282,150
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Berry, Jack W; Elliott, Timothy R; Grant, Joan S et al. (2012) Does problem-solving training for family caregivers benefit their care recipients with severe disabilities? A latent growth model of the Project CLUES randomized clinical trial. Rehabil Psychol 57:98-112
Hui, Siu-Kuen Azor; Elliott, Timothy R; Martin, Roy et al. (2011) Family caregivers' attributions about care-recipient behaviour: does caregiver relationship satisfaction mediate the attribution-distress relationship? Br J Health Psychol 16:642-59
Ramkumar, Neeta A; Elliott, Timothy R (2010) Family caregiving of persons following neurotrauma: issues in research, service and policy. NeuroRehabilitation 27:105-12
Erosa, Norma A; Elliott, Timothy R; Berry, Jack W et al. (2010) Verbal and physical abuse experienced by family caregivers of adults with severe disabilities. Ital J Public Health 7:76-84
Dreer, Laura E; Berry, Jack; Rivera, Patricia et al. (2009) Efficient assessment of social problem-solving abilities in medical and rehabilitation settings: a Rasch analysis of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised. J Clin Psychol 65:653-69
Elliott, Timothy R; Berry, Jack W; Grant, Joan S (2009) Problem-solving training for family caregivers of women with disabilities: a randomized clinical trial. Behav Res Ther 47:548-58
Elliott, Timothy R; Hurst, Morgan (2008) Social Problem Solving and Health. Bienn Rev Couns Psychol 1:295-309
Dunn, Dana S; Elliott, Timothy R (2008) The Place and Promise of Theory in Rehabilitation Psychology. Rehabil Psychol 53:254-267
Elliott, Timothy R; Pezent, Ginger D (2008) Family caregivers of older persons in rehabilitation. NeuroRehabilitation 23:439-46
Rivera, Patricia A; Elliott, Timothy R; Berry, Jack W et al. (2008) Problem-solving training for family caregivers of persons with traumatic brain injuries: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 89:931-41

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