Effectiveness of a support intervention for family caregivers and stroke survivors(*)

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the effectiveness of a support intervention on the burden and stress of family caregivers and on the stroke survivors’ independence level, compared to the Control Group. METHOD: a quasi-experimental study conducted with 37 participants (Intervention Group, n=20; and Control Group, n=17). The intervention lasted 8 months. The outcomes of the caregivers (burden and stress) and of the survivors (independence level) were measured by the Zarit, Perceived Stress and Katz scales, at the following moments: pre-intervention, the fourth month of the intervention and post-intervention. The differences of these outcomes between groups and intra-group and the effect size were calculated using the Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests (Bonferroni adjustment by Wilcoxon) and the Kendall’s W coefficient. RESULTS: the Intervention Group reduced burden (p=0.039) and stress (p=0.009), mainly, after 8 months of intervention, which was not observed in the Control Group. The independence level did not change between the groups or moments (p>0.05). The intervention presented moderate effect size (p=0.45 and p=0.54). CONCLUSION: the intervention was effective to reduce the burden and stress of family caregivers, but did not alter the stroke survivors’ independence level, when compared to the Control Group.