Empowering caregivers of people with schizophrenia: Comparing intervention effectiveness of family link education programme (FLEP), collective narrative practice group (CNGP) and integrative peer support growth group (IPSGG) = 為精神分裂症患者照顧者充能: 對比家連家心理教育、團體敘事實踐小組和綜合型朋輩互助成長組的干預成效
Project title
Empowering caregivers of people with schizophrenia: Comparing intervention effectiveness of family link education programme (FLEP), collective narrative practice group (CNGP) and integrative peer support growth group (IPSGG) = 為精神分裂症患者照顧者充能: 對比家連家心理教育、團體敘事實踐小組和綜合型朋輩互助成長組的干預成效
Principal Investigator
Department
Grant Awarding Body
Research Grants Council
Grant Type
Faculty Development Scheme
Project Code
UGC/FDS15/M01/15
Amount awarded
$849,850
Funding Year
2015/16
Duration of the Project
28 months
Status
Completed
Abstract
In this comparative intervention effectiveness study, we will develop a new intervention approach to support caregivers for people with schizophrenia, called the Integrative Peer Support Growth Group (IPSGG), test it and compare its effectiveness with two other intervention approaches, the Family Link Education Programme (FLEP) and the Collective Narrative Practice Group (CNPG). As the first local effectiveness study that involves multiple intervention approaches for caregivers, the proposed study will help to articulate the pros and cons of each approach and their practical effects on caregivers of people with schizophrenia.
The proposed study uses a longitudinal framework (pre-assessment, post-assessment, and three-month follow-up) and a delayed treatment control nested design, which tests the effectiveness of three intervention groups (an FLEP group, a CNPG group, and a wait-list control group with a delayed treatment with IPSGG). A mixed method involving parallel quantitative and qualitative research will be used to track the effects of the three intervention programmes.
We plan to recruit a sample of 120 caregivers of people with schizophrenia, with 40 caregivers in each intervention group, to ensure an anticipated effect size (Cohen’s d) of .68, the desired statistical power level of .80 and a probability level of .05. All 120 caregivers will take part in the quantitative research, in which their subjective burdens, psychological well-being, empowerment, self-efficacy, regulation of emotions and social support will be measured using standard validated scales at three data points: at enrollment, immediately after the intervention, and three months after the intervention. ANOVA with repeated measures and ANCOVA analyses will be used to track the progress of participants in different intervention groups.
Qualitative research in the form of semi-structured focus-group interviews will be carried out to probe into (i) the fluid experiences of the caregivers in the project, (ii) unravel changes in their caring experiences, and (iii) substantiate, explore and complement the findings of the quantitative study as part of the triangulation research process. A total of thirty participants will be recruited for the focus-group interviews occurring at five time points, with six participants in each focus group. All participants of the focus groups will be selected in terms of their genders, their relations with the family members who suffer from schizophrenia and the interventions that they received. Thematic analysis will be used to analyse the qualitative data and triangulate the findings of the quantitative assessment.
The proposed study uses a longitudinal framework (pre-assessment, post-assessment, and three-month follow-up) and a delayed treatment control nested design, which tests the effectiveness of three intervention groups (an FLEP group, a CNPG group, and a wait-list control group with a delayed treatment with IPSGG). A mixed method involving parallel quantitative and qualitative research will be used to track the effects of the three intervention programmes.
We plan to recruit a sample of 120 caregivers of people with schizophrenia, with 40 caregivers in each intervention group, to ensure an anticipated effect size (Cohen’s d) of .68, the desired statistical power level of .80 and a probability level of .05. All 120 caregivers will take part in the quantitative research, in which their subjective burdens, psychological well-being, empowerment, self-efficacy, regulation of emotions and social support will be measured using standard validated scales at three data points: at enrollment, immediately after the intervention, and three months after the intervention. ANOVA with repeated measures and ANCOVA analyses will be used to track the progress of participants in different intervention groups.
Qualitative research in the form of semi-structured focus-group interviews will be carried out to probe into (i) the fluid experiences of the caregivers in the project, (ii) unravel changes in their caring experiences, and (iii) substantiate, explore and complement the findings of the quantitative study as part of the triangulation research process. A total of thirty participants will be recruited for the focus-group interviews occurring at five time points, with six participants in each focus group. All participants of the focus groups will be selected in terms of their genders, their relations with the family members who suffer from schizophrenia and the interventions that they received. Thematic analysis will be used to analyse the qualitative data and triangulate the findings of the quantitative assessment.