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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02672800

A Psychosocial Intervention for Bereaved Spousal Caregivers of Persons With Dementia

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a writing intervention (Reclaiming Yourself), intended to facilitate bereavement for spousal caregivers whose partners died with dementia.

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Key information

Conditions

Dementia Bereavement Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Saskatchewan

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7J3Z1, Canada

About this study

The current research is part 3 of a multi-phase project, whose purpose was to examine the experience of bereavement for spousal caregivers to persons with dementia. Based on spouses' shared experiences and the input of experts in the field (i.e. bereavement/dementia researchers, health care providers), an existing writing intervention called the Finding Balance tool was adapted from the context of cancer bereavement to that of dementia.

The purpose of this third phase is to test this adapted writing intervention (Reclaiming Yourself) with bereaved spouses of persons with dementia. Participants will be randomly assigned into one of two groups: treatment (who will receive the tool); and control (who will not be offered the tool until a later stage). The feasibility and acceptability of the intervention will be assessed, as well as the degree to which it facilitated participants' bereavement, ability to find balance, and psychological health.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • bereaved for three months or longer
  • were a caregiver for their spouse with advanced dementia
  • English speaking
  • willing and able to share their bereavement experience

Exclusion criteria

  • those with other than a spousal relationship to the person with dementia
  • spousal caregivers of persons with another terminal disease
  • those bereaved less than 3 months
  • those unable to provide consent

Treatment and study plan

the Reclaiming Yourself tool

Behavioral

This tool is a behavioural writing intervention, intended to facilitate bereavement for spousal caregivers of persons with dementia

Primary outcomes

  1. Inventory of Daily Widowed Life (IDWL)- change at 1 and 2 months post-intervention

    Time frame: The measure will be administered pre-intervention, 1 month following the introduction of the intervention, and 2 months following the introduction of the intervention

    Measure of finding balance in bereavement

  2. Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale- Revised (CESD-R)- change at 1 and 2 months post-intervention

    Time frame: The measure will be administered pre-intervention, 1 month following the introduction of the intervention, and 2 months following the introduction of the intervention

    Measure of depressive symptoms

  3. Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, Present Feelings- change at 1 and 2 months post-intervention

    Time frame: The measure will be administered pre-intervention, 1 month following the introduction of the intervention, and 2 months following the introduction of the intervention

    Measure of grief

Secondary outcomes

  1. Semi-structured qualitative evaluation interviews

    Time frame: Post intervention (after 1 month)

    Measure of the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Saskatchewan

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Psychosocial Intervention for Bereaved Spousal Caregivers of Persons With Dementia: Adapting the "Finding Balance" Tool

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2018
First posted
Feb 3, 2016
Registry last updated
May 4, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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