Evaluating the Effectiveness of Community-Based Dementia Caregiver Intervention on Caregiving Burden, Depression, and Attitude Toward Dementia: A Quasi‐experimental Study

Abstract

Objective Accumulating evidence of the effects of dementia caregiving on individuals, society, and health has generated intervention studies to reduce the stress among family caregivers of people with dementia. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a family support program, community-based dementia caregiver intervention (CDCI), among family caregivers of people with dementia compared with a control group (no intervention). Patients and Methods This study is a quasi-experimental, non-randomized controlled trial conducted in six dementia relief centers of a community healthcare center in Korea. Family caregivers of 83 patients with dementia were recruited; of these 78 were included in the final study, with 40 in the intervention group and 38 in the control group. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare the mean difference in the scores of the total short-form Zarit Burden Interview (SZBI), personal strain, role strain, depression, and attitude between the groups. Results Compared with controls, in the intervention group, the adjusted mean score of personal strain (F = 4.353, t = 0.041) and attitude toward dementia (F = 10.284, t = 0.002) differed significantly after the intervention, with a small to moderate effect. There was no significant difference in the total SZBI, role strain, or depression mean score. Conclusion The findings suggest that CDCI may be an effective intervention strategy to reduce personal strain and enhance the attitudes of family caregivers of people with dementia.

Caregiver Burden of Patients With Huntington’s Disease in South Korea

“…One study used the ZBI-12 to investigate caregiver intervention among community-based individuals with dementia. 22 In that study, the average caregiver burden score among the participants aged similar to the present cohort was 18.0 ± 6.1, which was in a similar range to our data. Other studies used other versions of the ZBI, showing that the caregiver burden of individuals with common dementia or Parkinson's disease was approximately 3 to 5 times higher than that of normal elderly individuals.…”

“…For the comparison, we provided a summary table of the caregiver burden for common dementia [ 21 - 23 ] and Parkinson’s disease [ 24 - 27 ] in Korea ( Supplementary Table 3 in the online-only Data Supplement). One study used the ZBI-12 to investigate caregiver intervention among community-based individuals with dementia [ 22 ]. In that study, the average caregiver burden score among the participants aged similar to the present cohort was 18.0 ± 6.1, which was in a similar range to our data.…”

“…Consistent with our findings, cognitive dysfunction in HD was demonstrated to be associated with the caregiver burden in previous studies, and similar associations were found in studies on common dementias. 11,13,19,20 For the comparison, we provided a summary table of the caregiver burden for common dementia [21][22][23] and Parkinson's disease [24][25][26][27] in Korea (Supplementary Table 3 in the online-only Data Supplement). One study used the ZBI-12 to investigate caregiver intervention among community-based individuals with dementia.…”

Understanding the Empowerment of Family Caregivers of People with Dementia in China: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

“…The help from long-term care institutions could provide respite when family caregivers could not deal with the care issues [44,49]. Community support reduces personal strain and enhances the positive attitudes of family caregivers of people with dementia [50]. Moreover, empowering family caregivers by the community is the key point for sustainable empowerment, because communities could provide sustainable trainings and periodic visits for family caregivers [22].…”

The effect of structured education and phone follow‐up on moderate stage Alzheimer's disease caregiving: Outcomes for patient and caregivers

“…However, studies specifically examining the effectiveness of interventions for caregivers of patients with moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease are limited. Key factors in managing caregiver burden that have emerged from existing research include involving caregivers and patients, implementing structured programs with skill training and individual counseling, offering flexible long‐term support, delivering concise and personalized content, and maintaining a moderate‐intensity approach (Atoyebi et al, 2022; Brodaty et al, 2003; Lee et al, 2022; Villars et al, 2021; Walter & Pinquart, 2020).…”