Iterative Development of the Caregiver Wellness after Traumatic Brain Injury Program (CG-Well)

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> Main Objective: To iteratively design a web/phone-based intervention for caregivers of adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI), Caregiver Wellness (CG-Well) Secondary Objective: To obtain qualitative and quantitative feedback on CG-Well from experts and caregivers. <h3>Design</h3> Multi-step prospective study with iterative changes to CG-Well: 1) Developed intervention content based on qualitative feedback from 18 family caregivers; 2) obtained qualitative feedback from 10 experts; 3) refined content using a modified Delphi approach involving 4 caregivers and 6 experts; 4) designed CG-Well website and videos; 5) obtained feedback on program acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility from 6 caregivers and 9 experts. <h3>Setting</h3> A level-I trauma and tertiary medical center, focused on acute and sub-acute timeframes. <h3>Participants</h3> A convenience sample of caregivers and experts including healthcare providers with five years of TBI experience, or researchers with a record of TBI publications. <h3>Interventions</h3> The CG-Well intervention was designed with content in education, support, and skill-building delivered through a website with videos and telephone calls with an intervener. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Caregivers and experts completed a survey using Likert-type scales to rate if modules were relevant, clear, accurate, and useful and if the website was acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for TBI caregivers (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Means and standard deviations (SD) were used to characterize ratings. <h3>Results</h3> Qualitative findings were instrumental in designing and refining the CG-Well intervention. Ratings were positive for the modules [means and SD for relevant (4.9, 0.33), clear (4.6, 0.53), accurate (4.9, 0.33) useful (5, 0)] and for the website [means and SD for acceptable (4.8, 0.36), appropriate (4.8, 0.35), and feasible (4.8, 0.36)]. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The iterative design process for CG-Well resulted in a highly acceptable program. A randomized controlled trial to test feasibility of CG-Well compared with an attention control group is underway to generate data trends for a future well-powered clinical trial. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> No relevant disclosures.