Effects of a Supportive Training on Caregiving Burden of Stroke Patients’ Caregivers after Discharge from an Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Background: The caregivers of stroke patients experience a sense of confusion and stress after the patients are discharged from the hospital. Such that after a while, they experience a sense of inability to provide care and an increased caregiving burden. Therefore, this research aims to study the effects of a supportive training program on the caregiving burden of stroke patients’ caregivers after discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, the study population consisted of 60 caregivers of stroke patients. The sampling method was purposive based on the inclusion criteria. The intervention was performed in 6 supportive training program sessions. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires and the Novak and Guest Caregiver Burden Inventory. Data were analyzed using the paired t-test, independent t-test, and ANCOVA. Results: There was no significant difference in the caregiving burden before the intervention between the two groups (intervention: 81.13 ± 13.99, control: 70.66 ± 14.61, P value= 0.030). After the post-test, the caregiving burden reduced significantly in the intervention group compared to before the intervention (56.46 ± 10.52) and compared with the control group (72.33 ± 15.86, (P value< 0.001). Conclusion: According to the findings, the caregiving burden of stroke patients' caregivers can be alleviated through the intervention of supportive training, which is an effective and cost-effective method. As nurses play a key role in training and supporting these patients as primary caregivers, they should take this program seriously.