A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of a support and education programme for spouses of people affected by stroke.

Author(s): Franzen-Dahlin A, Larson J, Murray V, Wredling R, Billing E

Affiliation(s): Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital. asa.franzen-dahlin@ds.se.

Publication date & source: 2008-08, Clin Rehabil., 22(8):722-30.

Publication type:

Objective: To determine whether a nurse-led support and education programme for spouses of patients affected by stroke improved the psychological health of the spouses.Design: A longitudinal, open, randomized controlled trial.Sample: One hundred spouses of stroke patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group.Setting: The study was conducted in a hospital setting.Intervention: The intervention consisted of six group meetings during six months, with a follow-up after further six months. Comparison between the intervention and the control groups was made at baseline, after six and 12 months using analysis with repeated measures.Main measures: The Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale - Self-Affective for psychological health.Results: No significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups concerning overall psychological health. However, a subanalysis revealed that those who participated more frequently in the group meetings (five or six times) had significantly stronger psychological health (P<0.05). Knowledge about stroke increased over time in both groups, but participants in the intervention group learned more (P = 0.041).Conclusion: Encouraging participation in the group meetings of a support programme might have a positive effect on psychological health.