Virtual health coaching to improve self-care among information caregivers of hospitalized older adults during transitions in care: Randomized control trial study protocol.
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Abstract
Background. Informal caregivers play a critical role in supporting older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs), particularly during transitions from hospital to home. These transitions are often marked by increased stress and reduced self-care among caregivers and heightened risk for poor outcomes in both caregivers and patients. The Virtual Caregiver Coach for You (ViCCY) intervention, grounded in the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, aims to improve caregiver self-care through tailored virtual health coaching. Methods. This single-site, three-hospital, Phase III randomized controlled trial is enrolling 250 informal caregivers of hospitalized older adults with MCCs. Participants are randomized to receive either ViCCY plus digital health information (tailored information from health, self-care, and caregiving websites) or digital health information alone. ViCCY is provided virtually by a trained health coach over a six-month period. Synchronous sessions focus on stress management, self-care, and adaptive coping. Primary outcomes include caregiver self-care, with secondary outcomes of stress, coping, preparedness, and perceived health status. Patient outcomes, including acute care utilization and associated costs, will also be evaluated. Discussion. This trial addresses a critical gap in transitional care by focusing on the well-being of caregivers. By testing a scalable, virtual intervention tailored to individual caregiver needs, the study aims to improve caregiver outcomes and inform future models of caregiver support. The findings will contribute to the evidence base for virtual health coaching and its role in promoting self-care among caregivers, as well as potentially reducing acute care resource use in patients. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT0616774
