Evaluation of technology-based interventions for informal caregivers of patients with dementia
- Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the efficacy of technology-based interventions for informal caregivers of people with dementia (PWD). Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases were searched in August 2018, with no restrictions in language or publication date. Two independent reviewers identified 33 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducting a technology-based intervention for informal carers of PWD. Meta-analyses for the outcome measures caregiver depression and caregiver burden were conducted with subgroup analyses according to mode of delivery (telephone, computer/web-based, combined interventions). To assess methodologic quality, the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment was rated. Results: Meta-analyses revealed a small but significant postintervention effect of technology-based interventions for caregiver depression and caregiver burden. Combined interventions showed the strongest effects. Conclusion: Technology-based interventions have the potential to support informal caregivers of PWD.Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the efficacy of technology-based interventions for informal caregivers of people with dementia (PWD). Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases were searched in August 2018, with no restrictions in language or publication date. Two independent reviewers identified 33 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducting a technology-based intervention for informal carers of PWD. Meta-analyses for the outcome measures caregiver depression and caregiver burden were conducted with subgroup analyses according to mode of delivery (telephone, computer/web-based, combined interventions). To assess methodologic quality, the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment was rated. Results: Meta-analyses revealed a small but significant postintervention effect of technology-based interventions for caregiver depression and caregiver burden. Combined interventions showed the strongest effects. Conclusion: Technology-based interventions have the potential to support informal caregivers of PWD. Because of advantages such as high flexibility and availability, technology-based interventions provide a promising alternative compared with "traditional services," e.g., those for people living in rural areas. More high-quality RCTs for specific caregiver groups are needed.…
| Author details: | Friederike DeekenGND, Anna RezoORCiD, Matthias HinzGND, Robert Discher, Michael Armin RappORCiDGND |
|---|---|
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2018.12.003 |
| ISSN: | 1064-7481 |
| ISSN: | 1545-7214 |
| Pubmed ID: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30642650 |
| Title of parent work (English): | The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry |
| Subtitle (English): | a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| Place of publishing: | New York |
| Publication type: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Year of first publication: | 2019 |
| Publication year: | 2019 |
| Release date: | 2021/03/11 |
| Tag: | Caregiver; dementia; meta-analysis; technology |
| Volume: | 27 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| Number of pages: | 20 |
| First page: | 426 |
| Last Page: | 445 |
| Funding institution: | Karl and Veronica Carstens-Foundation as part of the National Graduate College "Optimization Strategies in Dementia (OptiDem)"; Carstens-Foundation |
| Organizational units: | Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Strukturbereich Kognitionswissenschaften / Department Sport- und Gesundheitswissenschaften |
| DDC classification: | 6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit |
