Efficacy and Implementation Planning Across the Veterans Affairs Polytrauma System of Care: Protocol for the REACH Intervention for Caregivers of Veterans and Service Members With Traumatic Brain Injury

JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Aug 15;13:e57692. doi: 10.2196/57692.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The responsibility of care for Veterans and Service Members (V/SMs) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often defaults to informal family caregivers. Caregiving demands considerable knowledge, skill, and support to facilitate the health and well-being of V/SMs and themselves. Persistent and common TBI caregiver issues include strain, depression, and anxiety. While evidence-based, brief interventions have been developed and implemented for family caregivers in Veteran neurodegenerative populations, few interventions have been developed, adapted, or tested to support the unique needs of caregivers of V/SMs with TBI.

OBJECTIVE: This study will adapt and test an evidence-based, personalized, 6-session telehealth caregiver intervention, "Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers' Health" (REACH), to meet the unique needs of caregivers of V/SMs with TBI. If successful, a community-based participatory research team will develop an implementation plan to roll out REACH TBI across the national Veterans Affairs Polytrauma System of Care.

METHODS: This mixed methods, crossover waitlist control clinical trial will use a Type 1 Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation approach to adapt and then test the effects of REACH TBI on key TBI caregiver outcomes.

RESULTS: This study was funded by the Department of Defense in September 2023. Participant enrollment and data collection will begin in 2024.

CONCLUSIONS: If effective, REACH TBI will be the first evidence-based intervention for caregivers of V/SMs with TBI that can be scaled to implement across the Veterans Affairs Polytrauma System of Care and fill a notable gap in clinical services.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/57692.

PMID:39145996 | DOI:10.2196/57692