Changes in ratings of caregiver burden following a community-based behavior management program for persons with traumatic brain injury

Objective: This study examines the use of a community-delivered behavior management program for persons with traumatic brain injury and their caregivers and its effect on reduction of ratings of caregiver burden. Design: A control group was compared with an education only and education plus behavior management group with random assignment to conditions. Participants: Total number of participants was 27 persons with brain injury and their caregivers. Main Outcome Measures: Dependent measures were subscales of the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress (QRS) and an adapted version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Results: An analysis of covariance adjusting for baseline burden and stress ratings showed no significant change in these measures associated with treatment. Conclusions: The results are discussed in terms of the potential modifiability of caregiver burden, the small sample size, and the sensitivity of current measures of caregiver stress and burden to detect clinically meaningful change.