Mindfulness and Support Group to Improve Patient and Caregiver Burden in Cirrhosis
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Cirrhosis
In brief
Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis pose a huge financial burden to the health care system. This includes the cost of medical care, employment, disability-related issues and reduced survival. Specifically, the complication of cirrhosis known as hepatic encephalopathy (HE) especially hinders quality of life, the performance of activities of daily living and the ability to drive a motor vehicle in affected subjects. The hidden burden to family members and caregivers of these subjects, however, has been all but ignored to date. Evaluation of family members and caregivers is essential. The burden of caring for someone with liver disease can result in added cost for health care for family members and caregivers and is typically not recognized. The importance of the burden to families and family members or caregivers resulting from other neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's has been well evaluated and specific strategies to educate and counsel family members and caregivers have been elaborated. This is important because as the findings of this study have emerged, we have found that both Veterans and non-Veterans with cirrhosis and HE have a poor quality of life, worse socio-economic status and place a significantly higher burden on their family members or caregivers than those without HE
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT02944643
- Run by
- Hunter Holmes Mcguire Veteran Affairs Medical Center
- People needed
- 20
- Starts
- 2016-06-01
- Expected to finish
- 2017-01-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2017-01-12
Who can join
Age: 21 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Cirrhosis proven by radiology, endoscopy (esophageal varices present) or biopsy
- Able to give informed consent as determined by the study staff
- Have a family member or caregiver who lives with them that is willing to participate
You may not qualify if…
- Unable to give consent
- Active psychosis
- Acute suicidal ideation
- No identified family member or caregiver
- Caregivers/Family members:
- Inclusion Criteria:
- Sharing living space with cirrhotic patient for at least 3 years
- Able and willing to participate in the groups
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Unfamiliar with patient's routines and does not live in the same space
- Unwilling to consent or participate
Where it is running
- Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center — Richmond, Virginia, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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