The Effects of A Therapeutic Relationship Program for Caregivers of Patients with Stroke on Family Relationships

Abstract

The present study was based on a quasi-experimental research design aimed at studying the effects of a therapeutic relationship program for caregivers of patients with stroke on family relationships. The research sample was 60 caregivers that were taking care of stroke patients. They were 18 years of age and above and were living in Phakphai district in Ayutthaya, Thailand. They met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to the therapeutic relationship group program and the control group. There were 30 caregivers in the therapeutic relationship group program and 30 caregivers in the group receiving regular caring activities. The therapeutic relationship program was validated for content validity by 3 professionals using the family relationship scale, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient reliability of .92. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test. According to the findings after providing the therapeutic relationship program, the stroke patients’ caregivers of the therapeutic relationship group program had higher post-test family relationship mean scores (M = 66.20, SD = 2.47) than the pre-test family relationship mean scores (M = 56.07, SD = 2.60) (p<.001, t = 14.23). Furthermore, the mean difference between the pre-test and post-test family relationship mean scores for the therapeutic relationship group program ( = 10.13, SD = 3.85) was significantly greater than the mean difference between the pre-test and post-test family relationship mean scores for the group that received regular caring activities ( = .07, SD = .25) (p<.001, t = 13.73).