A Web-Based Supportive Intervention for Families Living With Depression: Content Analysis and Formative Evaluation

Bamberg

Int J Mental Health Nurs

2015

While the burden of caring for older people with chronic medical illness and dementia has been well documented, considerably less is known about how carers develop the strength and resilience to sustain this important role with older family members with mental illness. The aim of the study was to understand the lived experience of primary caregivers of older people with severe and persistent mental illness, and to explore what, if anything, helps to sustain them in their caring role. An interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was adopted, and qualitative interviews were used with 30 primary caregivers. Two overarching themes, and related subthemes, were abstracted from the data. First, caring is a difficult and demanding responsibility. It affects carers adversely, emotionally, physically, socially, and financially, and their lifestyle in general. This is reflected in three subthemes: (i) physically and emotionally draining; (ii) grieving about the loss; (iii) and adverse effects on lifestyle and social relationships. Second, carers develop resilience in caring, which helps sustain them in their role, as illustrated in three subthemes: (i) caring as purposeful and satisfying; (ii) harnessing social support from others; and (iii) purposefully maintaining their own well-being. Community mental health nurses have a key role in assessing carers’ needs and supporting them in their caring role.

“…2014) and family relationships (McCann et al . 2011a; Stjernsward & Hansson 2014), causing further stress and strain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family carers' experience of caring for an older parent with severe and persistent mental illness

Bamberg

Int J Mental Health Nurs

2015

“…The Internet is an essential platform for sharing and exchanging information on a multitude of topics [ 1 , 2 ]. There is, however, great variety in the types of information that are shared on the Internet, ranging from purely fact-oriented information exchange to sharing very personal information [ 3 - 5 ]. People with a common interest in a particular topic may come together on the Internet as online communities in order to share information [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One subject area for which the Internet is an important platform for information search and information exchange is the field of health-related issues [ 11 , 12 ]. In the exchange of health-related information in pertinent Internet forums [ 5 , 10 , 13 , 14 ] and online health communities [ 15 - 18 ], there is also a wide range in the variety of contributions, with both fact-oriented information exchange and the transfer of personal information. Health-related Internet forums make it possible for everyone to make contributions, that is, ask or answer questions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personal Experiences and Emotionality in Health-Related Knowledge Exchange in Internet Forums: A Randomized Controlled Field Experiment Comparing Responses to Facts Vs Personal Experiences

Kimmerle¹,

Bientzle²,

Creß³

2014

J Med Internet Res

BackgroundOn the Internet, people share personal experiences as well as facts and objective information. This also holds true for the exchange of health-related information in a variety of Internet forums. In online discussions about health topics, both fact-oriented and strongly personal contributions occur on a regular basis.ObjectiveIn this field experiment, we examined in what way the particular type of contribution (ie, factual information vs personal experiences) has an impact on the subsequent communication in health-related Internet forums.MethodsFor this purpose, we posted parallelized queries to 28 comparable Internet forums; queries were identical with regard to the information contained but included either fact-oriented descriptions or personal experiences related to measles vaccination. In the factual information condition, we posted queries to the forums that contained the neutral summary of a scientific article. In the personal experiences condition, we posted queries to the forums that contained the same information as in the first condition, but were framed as personal experiencesResultsWe found no evidence that personal experiences evoked more responses (mean 3.79, SD 3.91) from other members of the Internet forums than fact-oriented contributions (mean 2.14, SD 2.93, t 26=0.126, P=.219). But personal experiences elicited emotional replies (mean 3.17, SD 1.29) from other users to a greater extent than fact-oriented contributions (mean 2.13, SD 1.29, t 81=3.659, P<.001).ConclusionsWe suggest that personal experiences elicited more emotional replies due to the process of emotional anchoring of people’s own style of communication. We recommend future studies should aim at testing the hypotheses with more general and with less emotionally charged topics, constructing different fact-oriented posts, and examining additional potential factors of influence such as personality factors or particular communication situations.

“…Also, an online intervention that was developed for nonprofessional caregivers caring for people with dementia was well-received ( www.dementieonline.nl ). One study showed positive results of web-based peer support for families of patients with depression, although the researchers in that study recommended including professional feedback as well [ 15 ]. However, to date, no study has examined the effects of online interventions based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles for caregivers of patients with depression [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

E-care 4 caregivers – an online intervention for nonprofessional caregivers of patients with depression: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Bijker

Kleiboer

Riper

et al. 2016

Trials

BackgroundNonprofessional caregivers are highly important in the everyday life of patients with depression. Yet, they may experience increased levels of burden, stress, depression, and anxiety. Therefore, there is a need for interventions that relieve symptoms and are accessible and time-efficient. This paper describes the protocol of a pilot study to evaluate (1) the feasibility of an online self-management intervention, E-care 4 caregivers, for the nonprofessional caregiver of patients with depression, and (2) the initial effects of E-care 4 caregivers on psychological distress, subjective burden, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and quality of life.Methods/designThe study is a randomized controlled trial in which we are comparing the E-care 4 caregivers online intervention with a wait list control group. Eighty-four nonprofessional caregivers of patients with depression aged 18 years or older are being recruited from among the general population. Feasibility is determined by semistructured telephone interviews evaluating the subjects’ satisfaction with the intervention and by using a questionnaire on the user-friendliness of the system. The primary outcome measure used to examine the initial effects of the intervention is psychological distress. Secondary outcome measures are subjective burden, symptoms of anxiety and depression, level of mastery, and quality of life. Assessments will be done at baseline and 6 weeks later. Statistical analysis of the effects of the intervention will be carried out on the basis of the intention-to-treat principle.DiscussionE-care 4 caregivers could potentially benefit nonprofessional caregivers, as well as patients and professionals indirectly.Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register identifier: NTR5268. Registered on 30 June 2015.