Impacto de una intervención psicosocial en la carga del cuidador de niños con parálisis cerebral

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that problem-solving therapy is effective in reducing the burden on caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. LOCATION: Check primary care within a private nonprofit association. PARTICIPANTS: 140 caregivers divided into control group (CG) and experimental group (EG). INTERVENTIONS: We performed in both groups a psychosocial intervention with a frequency of one session per week for three weeks to complete 120 minutes. In the EG performed a shortened form of problem-solving therapy with a focus on caregiver burden and the CG performed an educational intervention focusing on respiratory diseases. MAIN MEASURES: The response variable corresponds to the score obtained by Zarit questionnaire. The independent variable accounted for psychosocial intervention. RESULTS: In the EG according to Zarit questionnaire score was obtained by averaging 45.0 points pre intervention against 45.3 points in the CP after intervention Zarit was obtained by averaging 29.8 points in the EG and 44.3 points in the CG (P < .0001). The catalog groups according to their score Zarit in charge: none, mild, moderate and severe impact differences were found in the different intervention categories (Wilcoxon test Z = 6.281, P < .00001). CONCLUSIONS: Problem solving therapy is effective in reducing the burden on caregivers of children with cerebral palsy.