Research Study: Problem Solving for Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Problems
2/26/2010

Parent Research Study: Problem Solving for Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Problems

Indiana University School of Nursing is conducting a research study examining a problem-solving intervention using the telephone for caregivers of children with mental health problems. The purpose of this study is to examine how well the intervention works and what to do to make it better.

Who Can Participate?

Primary caregivers (parents—biological, adoptive, foster parents, relatives or guardians) of a child with a mental health problem who:
(a) has received mental health services in the community within the past year (at home, in-patient, school-based, etc.);
(b) has lived at home for at least 20 of the past 24 months; and
(c) is between the ages of 11 and 16 years when beginning the study.
What Happens?

• You will contact the primary investigator or a co-investigator by email, telephone, or face-to-face to get questions answered and share your interest in participating
• You will be asked if you meet the inclusion criteria above
• If you meet the above inclusion criteria, more screening questions will be asked of you to see if you qualify, and you will receive a $10 gift card for completing the screening
• You will let us know if you think you want to participate
  If interested and you qualify, informed consent will be mailed or given to you for you to sign and return if you are interested
• You will be assigned to either the intervention group or a wait-list control group
• You will complete a survey that will take about 1 hour
• You will participate in a 1-hour problem-solving intervention training session
• You will participate in 8 weekly problem-solving interventions by telephone
• You will be contacted by telephone 3 to 4 times for data collection during the study
• You may benefit by learning about problem solving, receiving individual attention from a mental health professional, and knowing you have helped
• You will receive gift cards for participation in the study

If interested, contact Janis Gerkensmeyer, PhD, RN
Phone: 317-278-4896
FAX: 317-274-2411
Or email me at:  jgerkens@iupui.edu