Understanding the need and feasibility of a transitional care training program for family caregivers of geriatric stroke survivors

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BACKGROUND: Stroke is a prevailing public health concern worldwide that has rapidly increased in the past few decades. People of any age may be affected by stroke; however, more than one third of cases are reported to occur in the ageing population. Stroke in the geriatric epoch is considered serious and places a substantial burden on patients and family members. Early rehabilitation, family involvement, and viable interventions may lessen the magnitude of problems that result from stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the need, feasibility, and preliminary effects of a transitional care training program for family caregivers of geriatric stroke survivors. METHODS: A mixed-method exploratory sequential framework was used to conduct the study in a multisite setting. The qualitative assessment explored participants’ needs through 17 semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis provided a basis for the development of a structured transitional care training intervention. A parallel two-arm feasibility trial was conducted in the second phase of the study, with 60 caregivers randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 30) and comparison (n = 30) groups. The post-intervention findings were measured using a reliable TEAC checklist. Independent t tests, Cohen’s d, ANOVA, and Tukey’s HSD models were applied to evaluate the preliminary outcomes of training and related associations among the variables in the groups. RESULTS: The qualitative synthesis revealed eight core themes that directly informed the essentials of training development as an intervention. The training was evaluated to determine its preliminary effect, which showed notable differences in the findings, with a mean score of 0.6533+0.08376SD in the intervention group compared with that of 0.4787+0.10673 SD in the control group, with a reported value of p < 0.001. The training revealed positive signals of improvement in the knowledge and skills of the caregivers. In addition, the baseline demographics were not significantly different, except for qualification, which had an overall value of p = 0.027. CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that a transitional care training program was a feasible intervention because of its preliminary effects on the education of family caregivers of geriatric stroke survivors. The positive outcomes of the intervention suggest its suitability within the indigenous context of the local population. A large-scale trial may be conducted within low- and middle-income countries to support broad generalization of the clinical outcomes or their long-term impact in home settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT06341881, Name of Registry: Clinicaltrial.gov. Date of Submission: 18–03-2024. Date of Registration: 02–04-2024.

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