The effect of the support program on the resilience of female family caregivers of stroke patients: Randomized controlled trial.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of a support program on the resilience of female family caregivers of stroke patients.

METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial. The sample consisted 70 female family caregivers (34 experimental, 36 control group). Data were collected three times (pretest-posttest, follow-up test). Data were collected using the demographical data form, the Family Index of Regenerativity and Adaptation-General.

RESULTS: A significant difference was determined between the experimental and control group's follow-up test scores for relative and friend support, social support and family-coping coherence. A significant difference was determined between the experimental group's mean pretest, posttest and follow-up test scores in terms of family strain, relative and friend support, social support, family coping-coherence, family hardiness and family distress.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the Support Program contributes to the improvement of the components of resilience of family caregivers of stroke patients.