Guidance for behavioural interventions aiming to support family support providers of people with spinal cord injury: A scoping review. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McKay, Rhyann C.; Wuerstl, Kelsey R.; Casemore, Shelia; Clarke, Teren Y.; McBride, Christopher B.; Gainforth, Heather L.
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 246(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Spinal cord injury -- Support provider -- Family caregiver -- Scoping review -- Behaviour change theory -- Behaviour change intervention -- Behaviour change wheel -- Integrated knowledge translation; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112456
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Rationale: Research has extensively examined the adverse outcomes of being family support provider also known as a family caregiver, of someone with spinal cord injury (SCI) such as psychological distress, poor health, and burden. Despite clear evidence of the negative impact of this social role, few interventions exist aiming to support family support providers of people with SCI. Objective: This scoping review aimed to guide future intervention development by identifying the components necessary to develop an intervention to support SCI family support providers using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). Methods: Electronic databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, Medline, Embase) were searched in May 2017. Articles relating to outcomes and/or behaviours of support providers of people with SCI were identified. Intervention components of the BCW, including behaviours, factors influencing behaviours, intervention content, and evaluation methods, were extracted from included articles. Results: Of the 59 included articles, most emphasized the outcomes of being a support provider but provided little evidence of behaviours, which may influence such outcomes. The most commonly identified behaviours included engaging in leisure time or daily activities, problem-solving, and providing support. Very few measures were used to measure engagement in behaviours objectively. The literature suggests that behaviours are often influenced by family support providers' physical and social environments. However, barriers may vary between behaviours and contexts. Conclusion: The results of this review show that there are many viable behavioural targets for intervention. Therefore, intervention efforts may need to be tailored to individuals' needs. A promising intervention approach may be to use a theory which promotes change in the ecological context of family support providers while encouraging behavioural strategies to overcome individual barriers. Future research should further examine the factors that influence specific behaviours to more comprehensively understand the context of the behaviour as well as effective intervention strategies to promote change. Highlights: Review focuses on the needs of people who support those with spinal cord injury (SCI). Being a support provider to someone with an SCI impacts many daily behaviours. The use of behaviour change theory has been limited in intervention development. Support providers face barriers related to their social and environmental contexts. Interventions should target individuals' ecological context and specific barriers.