# Efficacy and Implementation Planning Across the Veterans Affairs Polytrauma System of Care: Protocol for the REACH Intervention for Caregivers of Veterans and Service Members With Traumatic Brain Injury

## TL;DR

This study aims to adapt and test a telehealth intervention called REACH to support caregivers of Veterans and Service Members with traumatic brain injury.

## Contribution

The study adapts and tests the first evidence-based intervention specifically for caregivers of Veterans and Service Members with TBI.

## Key findings

- The REACH intervention will be adapted for caregivers of Veterans and Service Members with TBI.
- A mixed methods clinical trial will test the effectiveness of the adapted REACH intervention.
- If successful, the intervention will be implemented across the Veterans Affairs Polytrauma System of Care.

## Abstract

The responsibility of care for Veterans and Service Members (V/SMs) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often defaults to informal family caregivers. Caregiving demands considerable knowledge, skill, and support to facilitate the health and well-being of V/SMs and themselves. Persistent and common TBI caregiver issues include strain, depression, and anxiety. While evidence-based, brief interventions have been developed and implemented for family caregivers in Veteran neurodegenerative populations, few interventions have been developed, adapted, or tested to support the unique needs of caregivers of V/SMs with TBI.

This study will adapt and test an evidence-based, personalized, 6-session telehealth caregiver intervention, “Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers’ Health” (REACH), to meet the unique needs of caregivers of V/SMs with TBI. If successful, a community-based participatory research team will develop an implementation plan to roll out REACH TBI across the national Veterans Affairs Polytrauma System of Care.

This mixed methods, crossover waitlist control clinical trial will use a Type 1 Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation approach to adapt and then test the effects of REACH TBI on key TBI caregiver outcomes.

This study was funded by the Department of Defense in September 2023. Participant enrollment and data collection will begin in 2024.

If effective, REACH TBI will be the first evidence-based intervention for caregivers of V/SMs with TBI that can be scaled to implement across the Veterans Affairs Polytrauma System of Care and fill a notable gap in clinical services.

PRR1-10.2196/57692