Citation

Weiss P, Hadas-Lidor N, Weizman A, Sachs D. Community Ment. Health J. 2018; 54(4): 485-495.

Affiliation

Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Welfare and Health Science, The University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, 31905, Haifa, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10597-017-0169-9

PMID

28905138

Abstract

Keshet, a course for family members of persons' coping with mental illness, was developed to enhance positive family cognitive communication skills. Improving communication with the use of mediation techniques, primarily used by therapists, creates a learning environment viewed as a strategy of Knowledge Translation. To examine the effectiveness of Keshet in improving attitudes, problem solving, communication skills and attenuation of burden a quasi-experimental research design was applied with study and control condition. The same group of participants (N = 38) completed questionnaires at different stages: 3 months prior to course, initiation and completion. Following participation, significant changes were observed in attitudes regarding knowledge of how to cope and interact with family member. A correlation was found between improved knowledge and decline in burden. Implementing interventions which provide caregivers with professional "know-how" leads to lessened burden, thus contributing to maintaining well-being of family caregiver population.

Language: en

Keywords

Dynamic cognitive intervention (DCI); Family caregivers; Keshet; Mental health; Recovery