To explore the intervention effect of group intervention model on care-givers of patients with serious brain injury (SBI) , so as to provide evidence for improving mental status and coping styles of their care-givers.

From May to December 2016, by convenience sampling, 56 care-givers of SBI patients admitted to Neurosurgery Department in Xiangya Hospital Central South University were selected and were divided according to random number table into control group and intervention group, each with 28 cases. Two objects in the control group quitted before the study was over and another two were out of contact after discharge from the hospital. The other objects in the control group (n=24) received routine reply and guidance for their medical questions, while besides that, objects in the intervention group (n=28) received group intervention, including disease knowledge explaining and communications. Anxiety level and coping styles of care-givers in the two groups were compared at admission, before discharge and 2 weeks after leaving the hospital. Statistical analysis was done by repeated measurement analysis of variance.

Concerning comparison of anxiety scores of care-givers from the two groups at different time points, time effect (F=107.92, P<0.001) and interaction effect (F=5.92, P=0.01) were statistically significant, while intervention effect (F=0.94, P=0.35) was not; comparisons between the two groups of positive coping (F_intergroup=17.51, P<0.001; F_time=78.40, P<0.001; F_interaction=5.37, P=0.01) and negative coping (F_intergroup=6.02, P=0.03; F_time=143.44, P<0.001; F_interaction=8.55, P<0.001) were significant.

Along with status stabilization of the SBI patients, anxiety level of their care-givers decreases. Group intervention model can improve the care-givers' positive coping and reduce their negative coping.

Craniocerebral trauma; Anxiety; Care-giver; Coping style; Group intervention