Tidal Model Nursing for TBI Caregivers

Summary

Brain injury is a broad concept that may develop as a result of head trauma or surgical interventions, vascular injuries (such as subarachnoid hemorrhage or stroke), metabolic or toxic causes, cerebral anoxia, inflammation, or infection. A meta-analysis conducted between 1990 and 2016 reported an annual incidence of 43.6 million cases of brain injury worldwide. According to data published by the Turkish Statistical Institute in the same year, 24.3% of deaths in Türkiye were attributed to cerebrovascular events. Although advances in emergency medical services and palliative care have increased survival rates, a substantial proportion of survivors experience significant physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social disabilities. Consequently, these individuals often require supervision, support, and care from caregivers for the remainder of their lives. Caregivers in this population are typically family members who receive no financial compensation and are primarily responsible for providing social, mental, and physical care.

Studies examining caregivers have identified numerous physical, psychological, emotional, social, and economic challenges associated with caregiving. Research indicates that prolonged caregiving is associated with increased levels of anxiety, depression, deterioration in physical health, social isolation, burnout, and related conditions.

Mental health nurses, who play a critical role as healthcare professionals, adopt a holistic approach by evaluating individuals together with their families and caregivers throughout the care process. In this context, they implement various interventions that support treatment and rehabilitation. It is essential that these interventions also encompass caregivers and are grounded in evidence-based and collaborative practices.

According to Pektekin (2013), within the framework of the Tidal Model developed by psychiatric nursing theorists Phil Barker and Poppy Buchanan-Barker, emphasis is placed on individuals' lived experiences and the meanings they attribute to these experiences. This perspective, with its strong focus on individuality, is considered to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of the person in all dimensions.

In light of this information, the aim of this study is to examine the effect of a Tidal Model-based nursing approach on the levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout among caregivers of individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury.

Conditions

• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Caregivers
• Psychological Distress

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Tidal Model Based Nursing

A nursing intervention structured around the 10 commitments of the Tidal Model, focusing on the caregiver's personal story, empowerment, and psychosocial support.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gaziler Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• BİRGÜL ÖZKAN, PhD · Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-08-01

Primary Completion

2026-03-10

Completion

2026-03-10

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations