Efficacy and acceptability of a home-based, family-inclusive intervention for veterans with TBI: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often undermines community re-integration, impairs functioning and produces other symptoms. This study tested an innovative programme for veterans with TBI, the Veterans' In-home Programme (VIP), delivered in veterans' homes, involving a family member and targeting the environment (social and physical) to promote community re-integration, mitigate difficulty with the most troubling TBI symptoms and facilitate daily functioning. SETTING: Interviews and intervention sessions were conducted in homes or by telephone. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-one veterans with TBI at a VA polytrauma programme and a key family member. DESIGN: This was a 2-group randomized controlled trial. Control-group participants received usual-care enhanced by two attention-control telephone calls. Follow-up interviews occurred up to 4 months after baseline interview. MAIN MEASURES: VIP's efficacy was evaluated using measures of community re-integration, target outcomes reflecting veterans' self-identified problems and self-rated functional competence. RESULTS: At follow-up, VIP participants had significantly higher community re-integration scores and less difficulty managing targeted outcomes, compared to controls. Self-rated functional competence did not differ between groups. In addition, VIP's acceptability was high. CONCLUSION: A home-based, family-inclusive service for veterans with TBI shows promise for improving meaningful outcomes and warrants further research and clinical application.

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Veterans' In-home Program for Military Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Families: Report on Impact for Family Members.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) creates many challenges for families as well as for patients. Few intervention studies have considered both the needs of the person with TBI and his or her family and included both in the intervention process. To address this gap, we designed an innovative intervention for veterans with TBI and families-the Veterans' In-home Program (VIP)-targeting veterans' environment, delivered in veterans' homes, and involving their families. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the VIP is more effective than standard outpatient clinic care in improving family members' well-being in 3 domains (depressive symptoms, burden, and satisfaction) and to assess its acceptability to family members. DESIGN: In this randomized controlled trial, 81 dyads (veteran/family member) were randomly assigned to VIP or an enhanced usual care control condition. Randomization occurred after the baseline interview. Follow-up interviews occurred 3-4 months after baseline, and the interviewer was blinded to group assignment. SETTING: Interviews and intervention sessions were conducted in veterans' homes or by telephone. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 81 veterans with TBI recruited from a Veterans Affairs (VA) polytrauma program and a key family member for each participated. Of the 81 family members, 63 completed the follow-up interview. INTERVENTION: The VIP, guided by the person-environment fit model, consisted of 6 home visits and 2 telephone calls delivered by occupational therapists over a 3- to 4-month period. Family members were invited to participate in the 6 home sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Family member well-being was operationally defined as depressive symptomatology, caregiver burden, and caregiver satisfaction 3-4 months after baseline. Acceptability was operationally defined through 3 indicators. RESULTS: Family members in the VIP showed significantly lower depressive symptom scores and lower burden scores when compared to controls at follow-up. Satisfaction with caregiving did not differ between groups. Family members' acceptance of the intervention was high. CONCLUSIONS: VIP represents the first evidence-based intervention that considers both the veteran with TBI and the family. VIP had a significant impact on family member well-being and thus addresses a large gap in previous research and services for families of veterans with TBI.