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Journal of the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment
REVIEW

A systematic review of remotely delivered interventions to support wellbeing amongst caregivers of adults with acquired brain injuries

Nils Rickardsson https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3798-7008 A * , Daniel Jon Stopforth B and David Gillanders C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Graham Hills Building, 40 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1QE, UK.

B Psychology Services, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Ayrshire Central Hospital, Kilwinning Road, Irvine, KA12 8SS, UK.

C Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK.

* Correspondence to: nils.rickardsson@strath.ac.uk

Handling Editor: Alice Theadom

Brain Impairment 25, IB23099 https://doi.org/10.1071/IB23099
Submitted: 5 September 2023  Accepted: 28 April 2024  Published: 16 May 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment.

Abstract

Background

There is a need for improved access to evidence-based interventions supporting the wellbeing of caregivers of adults with acquired brain injury (ABI). Remotely delivered interventions could address this need. The present systematic review sought to collate studies evaluating remotely delivered interventions designed to improve the wellbeing of caregivers of adults with an ABI, to summarise findings and to comment on the quality of this research.

Methods

Systematic searches were conducted up until December 2023. Study characteristics, populations, interventions and outcomes were outlined, and papers were appraised on methodological quality. The review was pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42020189235).

Results

Eleven studies meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Methodological quality was generally low to adequate. Most studies evaluated an intervention for caregivers of people with stroke, with a variety of types of interventions trialled. The majority of studies reported non-significant findings on wellbeing outcomes when compared to control conditions.

Conclusions

There is limited evidence supporting a remotely delivered intervention to improve wellbeing outcomes for ABI caregivers. Specific recommendations are provided, including the development of a core set of outcomes and replication of findings over time, which can improve research into the development and evaluation of remote interventions for this population.

Keywords: ABI, brain injury, caregiving, carer support, mHealth, remote delivery, stroke, telehealth.

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