Depression can compound problems<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nStudies\nshow stroke survivors and their caregivers are three times more likely to\nexperience depression than the general population. Because depression can lead\nto additional health complications, addressing it and other stressors can\npositively influence the well-being of both parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe\nimpact stroke has on caregivers is enormous and shouldn\u2019t be minimized,\u201d\nMcCarthy said. \u201cDepression among stroke survivors is common, but it\u2019s even more\nprevalent among caregivers. The program we\u2019re developing aims to support the\nrelationship between survivor and caregiver. Both people are in it together, and\nneither will do well if one is struggling or if the relationship is strained.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Survivors\nand caregivers have a say<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nA\nmultidisciplinary team is providing expertise from a range of specialties. Dorothy Dunn<\/strong>,\nassociate professor in NAU\u2019s School of Nursing<\/a>, and Yolanda Garcia<\/strong>, associate professor in NAU\u2019s Department of Educational Psychology<\/a>, are co-investigators. Tamilyn Bakas of the University of Cincinnati is\nthe project mentor; Karen S. Lyons at Oregon Health and Science University and Sarah\nWhitton, Brett Kissela and Dawn Kleindorfer at the University of Cincinnati\nround out the collaborators from other institutions. NAU graduate and\nundergraduate students also are assisting.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe team collected information on coping strategies from previous\nstudies and available literature. But to develop a program to address\nrelationship issues that affect both the survivor and caregiver, McCarthy\nturned to his target audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the first phase of the study, we interviewed 19 survivor and\ncaregiver pairs and asked them about their experiences after stroke,\u201d McCarthy said.\n\u201cWe asked them how they were doing and what techniques they\u2019ve tried that have\nor haven\u2019t worked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After compiling and analyzing all the information collected, the\nteam identified 17 common relationship problem areas and came up with tips and\nstrategies for each. Some of those suggestions come from the interview subjects,\nand some are from existing theory and literature. The result is an interactive\nprogram designed to meet a pair\u2019s needs through the media they prefer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
McCarthy sent the final program, called Hand in Hand, to a\n10-member expert panel for evaluation. Two stroke survivors, two family\ncaregivers, a neurologist, an occupational therapist, a nurse and three\nresearchers reviewed the program and provided feedback. With refinements\ncompleted, McCarthy is now enrolling people to test the program\u2019s\neffectiveness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recruiting\nstroke survivors and caregivers as study participants<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nMcCarthy is reaching out to stroke support groups in northern\nArizona to recruit survivors and their caregivers. While participants need to\nvisit the NAU campus twice for in-person interviews, subsequent interactions\ncan take place via the internet or phone. Participants will receive information\nand tip sheets according to their concerns and can interact with McCarthy and\nhis team via Zoom, an online interface similar to Skype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOften, intervention programs are time-consuming, difficult and costly.\nWe\u2019re trying to alleviate those barriers for stroke survivors and their\ncaregivers. We know they have other demands on their time,\u201d McCarthy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McCarthy\njoined NAU in the fall of 2018. He has helped caregivers and people with\nchronic illness and disabilities achieve optimal health for 20 years and has\npublished studies on a variety of caregiver health and wellness topics.\nMcCarthy has been working with Garcia and Dunn\nsince he arrived at NAU. The three have overlapping interests in aging, chronic\nillness and patient-caregiver issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community members interested in participating in the study can contact McCarthy by email<\/a> or by phone at (928) 523-4237.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A\nmultidisciplinary team is providing expertise from a range of specialties. Dorothy Dunn<\/strong>,\nassociate professor in NAU\u2019s School of Nursing<\/a>, and Yolanda Garcia<\/strong>, associate professor in NAU\u2019s Department of Educational Psychology<\/a>, are co-investigators. Tamilyn Bakas of the University of Cincinnati is\nthe project mentor; Karen S. Lyons at Oregon Health and Science University and Sarah\nWhitton, Brett Kissela and Dawn Kleindorfer at the University of Cincinnati\nround out the collaborators from other institutions. NAU graduate and\nundergraduate students also are assisting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team collected information on coping strategies from previous\nstudies and available literature. But to develop a program to address\nrelationship issues that affect both the survivor and caregiver, McCarthy\nturned to his target audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the first phase of the study, we interviewed 19 survivor and\ncaregiver pairs and asked them about their experiences after stroke,\u201d McCarthy said.\n\u201cWe asked them how they were doing and what techniques they\u2019ve tried that have\nor haven\u2019t worked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After compiling and analyzing all the information collected, the\nteam identified 17 common relationship problem areas and came up with tips and\nstrategies for each. Some of those suggestions come from the interview subjects,\nand some are from existing theory and literature. The result is an interactive\nprogram designed to meet a pair\u2019s needs through the media they prefer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n McCarthy sent the final program, called Hand in Hand, to a\n10-member expert panel for evaluation. Two stroke survivors, two family\ncaregivers, a neurologist, an occupational therapist, a nurse and three\nresearchers reviewed the program and provided feedback. With refinements\ncompleted, McCarthy is now enrolling people to test the program\u2019s\neffectiveness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n McCarthy is reaching out to stroke support groups in northern\nArizona to recruit survivors and their caregivers. While participants need to\nvisit the NAU campus twice for in-person interviews, subsequent interactions\ncan take place via the internet or phone. Participants will receive information\nand tip sheets according to their concerns and can interact with McCarthy and\nhis team via Zoom, an online interface similar to Skype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOften, intervention programs are time-consuming, difficult and costly.\nWe\u2019re trying to alleviate those barriers for stroke survivors and their\ncaregivers. We know they have other demands on their time,\u201d McCarthy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n McCarthy\njoined NAU in the fall of 2018. He has helped caregivers and people with\nchronic illness and disabilities achieve optimal health for 20 years and has\npublished studies on a variety of caregiver health and wellness topics.\nMcCarthy has been working with Garcia and Dunn\nsince he arrived at NAU. The three have overlapping interests in aging, chronic\nillness and patient-caregiver issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Community members interested in participating in the study can contact McCarthy by email<\/a> or by phone at (928) 523-4237.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRecruiting\nstroke survivors and caregivers as study participants<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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