The Effectiveness of Group Reality Therapy on Anxiety and Depression of Iranian Family Caregivers of the Elderly with Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study

The effectiveness of group reality therapy on anxiety and depression of family caregivers of the elderly with multiple chronic conditions

Randomized controlled trial with pre and post-test design, with two experimental and control groups, without blinding, the allocation of family caregivers in two experimental (reality therapy) and control groups (without intervention) is done by block random assignment method.

Two health centers and outpatient clinics of three government hospitals are the sampling sites. After obtaining informed and written consent from eligible samples, family caregivers are divided into experimental (A: implementation of reality therapy intervention) and control groups (B: without intervention) using block random allocation method.

Inclusion criteria: Caring for an elderly family member with multiple chronic illnesses for at least three months, Age 18-60 years Exclusion criteria: Participate in any other related research on geriatric care over the past two years, Inability to take care of oneself and perform daily activities

Reality therapy is implemented for the experimental group; While no intervention is carried out for the control group. After completing the intervention in the the experimental group and and collecting the questionnaires in both groups, in order to observe moral considerations, the reality therapy package will be provided to the control group. The researcher devised the content of this intervention based on choice theory and based on reality therapy techniques and Dr. William Glasser's reality therapy book translated by Dr. Ali Sahebi, reviewing the studies of reality therapy and under the supervision of a doctor of psychology.

Anxiety Depression

Randomization: Step 1: Random sequence generation: Considering that the researchers of this study tend to have all sample groups with equal sample size, they used restricted randomization. In the present study, the method used in this type of randomization in order to create a balance in the number of samples assigned to each of the studied groups is block randomization. The placement of family caregivers of the elderly with several chronic diseases in two groups of intervention (reality therapy) and control (without intervention) was done by block random allocation method. The method of assigning 50 eligible samples to two groups of 25 is as follows: the method of 4 random blocks is used to assign family caregivers to the four groups studied. To do this, first write a list of blocks and assign numbers to them {(1) AABB- (2) ABAB- (3) ABBA- (4) BBAA- (5) BABA- (6) BAAB}. Then, using a table of random numbers, 13 random numbers between 1 to 6 are created and according to the mentioned numbers, the relevant block is selected and a random sequence is formed as a sequence of letters A and B (letter A for the test group and letter B for the control group). Step 2: Concealment of random allocation: To perform a random sequence on the study participants, Sequentially numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes are used. In such a way that the assigned group is not specified before the individual is assigned; A number of envelopes are prepared and each of the random sequences created is recorded on a card and the cards are placed inside the envelopes in order. In order to maintain a random sequence, envelopes are numbered in the same way on the outer surface of the envelopes. Finally, the lids of the letter envelopes are glued and placed inside the boxes, respectively. At the beginning of the registration of participants, one of the envelopes of the letter is opened and the assigned group of the participant is revealed, according to the order of entry of the eligible participants. Step 3: Execute the random allocation process: The student examines the participants in terms of inclusion and exclusion criteria in the study and registers them in the study. However, the person who assigns the participants to the groups will not be involved in the intervention and data collection of the participants.

The data obtained in relation to the target population of this study are related to demographic information and the two main outcomes of the study, namely anxiety and depression, which are reported anonymously and as a result of the analysis of the findings.

Access period starts from 1401

Researchers in the field of nursing and psychology All health care providers Nursing politicians

Reference to the researchers of this study

Send a message to saharmalmir93@gmail.com

Data is sent after obtaining permission from the supervisors