Resourcefulness Intervention Efficacy for Parent Caregivers of Technology-Dependent Children: A Randomized Trial. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Toly, Valerie Boebel; Zauszniewski, Jaclene A.; Yu, Jiao; Sattar, Abdus; Rusincovitch, Bethany; Musil, Carol M.
• Other Names: Bakas Tamilyn guest-editor.; Miller Elaine L. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Western journal of nursing research. Volume 44:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 296
• Page End: 306
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: technology-dependent children -- resourcefulness -- intervention -- mental/physical health -- family caregivers -- parents -- family functioning; Nursing -- Research -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Research -- West (U.S.) -- Periodicals; Nursing -- West (U.S.) -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing Research -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- Recherche -- États-Unis (Ouest) -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- États-Unis (Ouest) -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers; Recherche; États-Unis (Ouest); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 610.730702
• DOI: 10.1177/01939459211062950
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0193-9459

Abstract

Parent caregivers of children who require lifesaving technology (e.g., mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes) must maintain a high level of vigilance 24/7. A two-arm randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of a resourcefulness intervention on parents' mental/physical health and family functioning at four time points over six months. Participants ( n = 93) cared for their technology-dependent children <18 years at home. The intervention arm received teaching on social (help-seeking), personal (self-help) resourcefulness skills; access to the intervention video and skill application video-vignettes; four weeks of skills reinforcement using daily logs; four weekly phone contacts; and booster sessions at two- and four-month postenrollment. The attention control arm received phone contact at identical time points plus the current standard of care. Statistically significant improvement was noted; fewer depressive cognitions and improved physical health for the intervention participants than attention control participants over time after controlling for covariates. The findings support the resourcefulness intervention efficacy.