Fadime Hatice İnci

The effect of the support program on the resilience of female family caregivers of stroke patients: Randomized controlled trial

AIM The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of a support program on the resilience of female family caregivers of stroke patients. METHODS This is a randomized controlled trial. The sample consisted 70 female family caregivers (34 experimental, 36 control group). Data were collected three times (pretest-posttest, follow-up test). Data were collected using the demographical data form, the Family Index of Regenerativity and Adaptation-General. RESULTS A significant difference was determined between the experimental and control groups follow-up test scores for relative and friend support, social support and family-coping coherence. A significant difference was determined between the experimental groups mean pretest, posttest and follow-up test scores in terms of family strain, relative and friend support, social support, family coping-coherence, family hardiness and family distress. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the Support Program contributes to the improvement of the components of resilience of family caregivers of stroke patients.