Purpose of study: Caregivers are often unprepared to care for patients discharged with brain injury. Interprofessional team meetings with the caregiver used in some specialties improve discharge planning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a standardized interprofessional caregiver meeting on caregiver readiness for caregiving.
Primary practice setting: The study was implemented on an eight-bed brain injury unit within a 73-bed Magnet-designated surgery and rehabilitation hospital in south central Pennsylvania.
Methodology and sample: This study used a pre-/post-quasi-experimental retrospective design. Caregivers of patients admitted to the brain injury unit completed the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale at admission and discharge. The intervention group received an interprofessional team meeting focused on the needs of the caregiver in preparation for caregiving within 3-4 days of admission compared with unscheduled meetings as needed.
Results: Scores improved significantly from admission to discharge in usual care and intervention groups. Sample size was insufficient to detect differences between groups. Health care providers and caregivers expressed improvement in communication and readiness for discharge.
Implications for case management practice: Early interprofessional meetings with the purpose of getting to know and understanding the needs of caregivers of patients with brain injury could guide us to better prepare the caregiver for caregiving at home. The Preparedness for Caregiving Scale can be useful to assess multiple domains of caregiving. This proactive approach may improve communication and discharge readiness for patients with brain injury.
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