Impact of a Psychoeducation on Caregiver Burden, Internalized Stigma, Anxiety, and Coping in Caregivers of Children With Epilepsy: A Randomized Pilot Study.
Havva Kaçan, Halis Sakız
PMID 40355136WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers of children with epilepsy and a disability who took a 6-week psychoeducation course reported less burden, anxiety and stigma, and more confident, optimistic coping than caregivers who did not.
The course included seizure first aid, medication management and stress techniques.
Key findings
01In the group that received the psychoeducation program, caregiver burden scores fell from 40.36 to 28.96 on a 0 to 88 scale, while the control group did not change significantly.
02In the group that received the psychoeducation program, internalized stigma scores fell from 54.50 to 41.93 on a 29 to 116 scale, while the control group did not change significantly.
03In the group that received the psychoeducation program, anxiety scores fell from 23.36 to 12.64 on a 0 to 63 scale, while the control group did not change significantly.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was a pilot with 54 completers, so confidence in the findings is limited. There was no follow-up after the post-test, so it is unclear whether the benefits lasted. Outcomes were self-reported, which can be affected by response bias and social desirability. Participants and care providers were not blinded because of the nature of the program. The study was done in three private rehabilitation centers in Türkiye, so results may not apply elsewhere. The groups differed at baseline in child diagnosis, with intellectual disability and epilepsy more common in the experimental group. The intervention included several components together, so the study cannot show which component produced the changes.
Declared interests
The study had no external funding, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that this 6-week program, or any single part of it, is proven to reduce caregiver burden, anxiety or stigma. The study was a pilot with 54 completers, no long-term follow-up, unblinded participants, self-reported outcomes, and several intervention components given together.