Self-care programme for informal carers of stroke survivors

INTERVENTION: The intervention programme is known by the name of Strengths‐Based Resilience.The Strengths‐Based Resilience program is designed to help develop resilience, defined as the ability to cope with adversity. The program invites participants to reflect actively on their experiences that demonstrate various aspects of resilience. By reflecting back on these experiences, and engaging in other exercises, participants learn skills and strategies to build resilience. The programme comprises of 6 skills based sessions focusing on topics like story of resilience, cognitive accuracy and flexibility, signature strengths, grudge and gratitude, savouring and empathy and positive relationships. The programme is being delivered by the PhD student who is an experienced psychologist with five years of clinical experience in delivering interventions. The programme is co‐facilitated by the community stroke advisor stroke foundaton of New Zealand (Otago branch). Co‐facilitation was considered for the sustainability and usefulness of the programme in future by the Stroke Foundation NZ. The programme will be delivered face to face in group format. Two groups will take place in Dunedin and one in Oamaru. Groups will comprise of maximum five people per group. The intervention will be delivered for six months from June to November 2021. 6 x 2 hour sessions once / month for 6 months. The intervention will take place at the Community House Dunedin and Oamaru ‐ New Zealand. session attendance checklists will be used to monitor adherence to the intervention. CONDITION: Mental Health ‐ Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour Resilience;psychological well‐being; ; Resilience ; psychological well‐being PRIMARY OUTCOME: The primary outcomes are feasibility outcomes, including recruitment data, attrition rate, feasibility and acceptability, adverse events and suitability of outcome measures.; Feasibility outcomes will be assessed quantitatively using study records audit and sudy specific questionnaires such as Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale and Psychological General Wellbeing Scale.; An embedde qualitative study will obtain participant's views about the experiences of the intervention including acceptability and utility of the intervention, Atleast 10 participants in the experimental group will be interviewed.[4 weeks post intervention] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Mean Psychological Well‐being score assessed using Psychological General Well‐being Index (PGWB‐S) (Grossi et al., 2006).[Baseline and one week post intervention] Mean Resilience Score using Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale (CD‐RISC) (Connor & Davidson, 2003)[Baseline and one week post intervention] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Aged 18 years or over Informal or un‐paid carer of a person with a confirmed diagnosis of stroke at least six months before the study Capacity to provide informed consent Willing to attend a once per month 6‐month duration programme