Paper
Friday, July 23, 2004
Savvy Caregiver Training: Transportable and Effective
Marsha L. Lewis, PhD, RN, Kenneth W. Hepburn, PhD, and Laura Nelson Kirk, MS, RN. School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| Learning Objective #1: Describe the process of translating a research-based program into an effective, transportable program |
| Learning Objective #2: Appreciate the differences between support groups and psychoeducational programs for family caregivers of persons with dementia |
Objective: This Alzheimer's Association-funded project supported the translation of a dementia caregiver psychoeducational program shown to be successful in a randomized trial into a transportable, self-contained program whose efficacy could be demonstrated. Design: A randomized trial was conducted, following development and field-testing of the transportable program designed to provide knowledge and skills, and develop attitudes helpful in meeting the challenges of caregiving for a family member with dementia. Population, Sample, Settings, Years: Spouse and child caregivers of persons with dementia in the community. The sample included 49 subjects from health systems and the Alzheimer's Association in Colorado and Alaska during 2002-2003. Intervention and Outcome Variables: All subjects completed baseline and four-month follow-up questionnaires with well-established scales to measure caregiver burden, depression, responses to caregiving (e.g., mastery, loss of self), decisional conflict, and beliefs about caregiving. Methods: Experimental subjects participated in a six-week, two hour per week program led by non-academic community professionals (e.g., nurses, social workers) using trainer and caregiver manuals. Control group subjects received customary care. Findings: ANCOVAs with baseline and Lawton as co-variates revealed significant differences between experimental (n=29) and control (n=20) subjects on Loss of Self (p=.042), Mastery (p=.022), and Decisional Conflict (p=.05) scales. There were significant differences between groups on a researcher developed Distress measure of caregiving impact (p=.044). Participant evaluations of the program indicated a 90% or higher "agree" plus "strongly agree" rating on measures of feeling more knowledgeable and skillful, relevance of the program to caregiving, effectiveness of program materials, and likelihood of recommending the program to others. Conclusions: It is feasible to convert a research-based caregiver intervention into a packaged program led by a variety of professionals in other settings. Caregivers who completed the program felt an increased mastery in caregiving and less distress than those not involved in the intervention.
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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004