Evaluating the Carter Institute Caregiver Education Program at the VA

Caregivers Clinical Trial

Official title: Evaluating the Carter Institute Caregiver Education Program at the VA

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This project will implement and evaluate the Rosalyn Carter Institute's (RCI's) educational and support program for caregivers, "Caring for You, Caring for Me." Specifically, it will examine effects of the program upon family caregivers to older adults in the Atlanta area and elderly veterans receiving outpatient primary care at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

Clinical Trial Description

This project will implement and evaluate the Rosalyn Carter Institute's (RCI's) educational and support program for caregivers, "Caring for You, Caring for Me." Specifically, it will examine effects of the program upon family caregivers to older adults in the Atlanta area and elderly veterans receiving outpatient primary care at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

Thus, this project has the potential not only to enhance the VA's complement of services for older veterans and their families, but also to demonstrate clearly the strengths of the RCI program.

Primary objectives of the research are:

1. to evaluate user satisfaction with and perceived utility of the "Caring for You, Caring for Me" caregiver educational program among formal (VHA staff) and informal (family) caregivers who undergo the program;

2. to assess effects of the program upon psychosocial and physical well-being of informal caregivers over a 1-year period,

3. to estimate effects of the program upon health status and service utilization of veterans whose family caregivers undergo the caregiver intervention, and

4. to determine whether an augmentation of the program, using structured follow-up to help caregivers apply program principles and knowledge, enhances its effects upon outcomes to caregivers and veterans.

The project has two secondary objectives, designed to build a foundation for further research by elucidating selected processes and effects of the intervention upon caregivers' and veterans' well-being. They are:

1. To lay a foundation for widespread implementation of the program, including feasibility, cost, and health utility gains for informal caregivers, and

2. To explore characteristics of veterans and their family caregivers that influence immediate and long-range outcomes of the intervention. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Investigator)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Caregivers

• NCT number: NCT00271375
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: VA Office of Research and Development
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 2005
• Completion date: October 2009