The effectivness of a strengths-oriented therapeutic conversation intervention on perceived support, well-being and burden among family caregivers in palliative home-care.

Aims To evaluate the effectiveness of a two-session multicomponent family strengths- oriented therapeutic conversation intervention among family caregivers of an individual with advanced/final stage cancer during ongoing palliative home-care. Background Family caregivers of patients in the advanced/final phases of cancer, experience multifaceted psychological distress and morbidity. Psychosocial interventions improve the well-being of family members who are caring for their close relative. Design A pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-test/posttests measurements. Methods Forty-eight family caregivers were assigned to receive two 60-90 min sessions of the intervention. The primary outcome was perceived emotional and cognitive support and psychological well-being, measured at baseline (T1). Then the participants were offered the first session of the intervention. About 1 week later, the second session was administered. The participants answered the same questionnaires again (T2) and then 2-4 weeks later (T3). The guideline; Criteria for Reporting Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions 2, guided the reporting of the study. Results Family caregivers reported significantly higher emotional and cognitive support post-intervention (T2) and at (T3). They also reported significantly reduced stress symptoms at (T3) and reduced caregiver burden post-intervention (T2) and at (T3). Conclusion The provision of the intervention contributed to extending knowledge about the usefulness of family conversations in the context of advanced/final stage cancer care. Impact There is a lack of knowledge about the benefit of therapeutic conversation interventions for family caregivers. The therapeutic conversation intervention offered, resulted in perceived support, decreased stress, and decreased caregiving demands among caregivers in palliative home-care. Trial registration number: ISRCTN 21786830.