Comparative outcomes of two distance-based interventions for male caregivers of family members with dementia

Contact Information

Keywords

Ann M. Steffen, PhD,ann_steffen@umsl.edu

Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, male care-givers, problem behaviors

Abstract

Data are presented on a preliminary study investigating the efficacy of 2 distance-based psychosocial interventions (N = 32) for male family dementia caregivers. Male caregivers were randomly assigned to either a basic education intervention (ie, educational booklet and biweekly check-in telephone calls) or a video intervention (ie, set of 10 videos, an accompanying workbook, and weekly telephone coaching sessions using behavioral strategies to manage challenging caregiving situations). Results did not support the greater efficacy of the video condition in reducing psychosocial distress (eg, negative affect, upset and annoyance following behavior problems) or increasing positive affect or caregiving self-efficacy. There was, however, a statistically significant effect for postintervention improvement in both the video/coaching and the educational booklet/check-in conditions. Potential reasons for the lack of differential treatment effects are discussed, along with implications for recruitment of male dementia caregivers.

Citation

Gant, J. R., Steffen, A. M., & Lauderdale, S. A. (2007). Comparative outcomes of two distance-based interventions for male caregivers of family members with dementia. American journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, 22(2), 120–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317506298880

DOI

10.1177/1533317506298880

EWB Constructs:

(2) Life Satisfaction
(3) Positive Affect

EWB Measures:

Positive and Negative Affect

data availability:

data availability details:

N/A

brain imaging paradigm:

N/A

brain region/circuit:

Exclusion Criteria:

The primary reason for exclusion was insufficient distress over memory or behavior problems of the care recipient

Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria for the care recipient included the following: no lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, suicidality, Huntington’s disease, Korsakoff’s disease, multiple sclerosis, humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV), or alcohol abuse; an established relationship with a clinic or primary care physician whom care recipient had visited within the last year; and a diagnosis of dementia confirmed by a physician.

Non-EWB Behavioral
Measures:

Revised Memory and Behavior Problem Checklist (RMBPC)
The Revised Scale for Caregiving Self Efficacy
Target Complaints (TC)
The Beck Depression Inventory
The Index of Activities of Daily Living scale

First author:

Judith R Gant

species:

Human

sample size:

study design:

(5) RCT

longitudinal data?

Yes

younger controls?

interventions:

video intervention

study population:

(1) cognitively healthy adults

sex (% female):

ethnicity (%white)

not stated (USA)

Age (mean, sd):

caregiver: 71.6, 9.7
care recipient: 76.1, 7.6

biological/Physiological Measures:

N/A