A randomised trial of a psychoeducational intervention to improve home care safety for informal caregivers

Abstract

.

Informal caregivers play a crucial role in medication safety and daily care at home, yet they often lack training and support. Caregiving errors in home settings remain under-recognised and can compromise patient safety. To evaluate the effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention in reducing caregiving and medication-related errors among informal caregivers. A randomised controlled psychoeducational intervention was conducted in Spain with 141 informal caregivers of highly dependent individuals on multiple medications. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (N = 71) or control group (N = 70). The intervention included two participatory sessions combining theoretical content and practical training on safe care and medication management. Outcomes included self-reported errors, video-based error recognition, and emotional burden of caregiving tasks. Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in self-reported errors (from 0.84 to 0.34 errors per caregiver; p < 0.001), while errors increased in the control group. The odds of reporting no errors post-intervention were significantly higher in the intervention group (OR = 4.05). Error recognition improved in 67.6% of participants (Cohen’s d = 0.55). Emotional burden declined significantly, and perceived caregiving competence remained high, with nearly all participants reporting improved task performance and satisfaction. A brief psychoeducational intervention can enhance home care safety and caregiver confidence. Supporting informal caregivers is key to preventing avoidable harm and ensuring safer care for individuals with chronic and complex conditions.