Reappraising Intergeneration Relationships in Dementia Caregiving

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Alzheimer Dementia

Treatments: Behavioral: Perspective Taking Reappraisal; Other: Basic Skill Building

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03584568

GRFPTR2018

Details and patient eligibility

About

It is hypothesized that reappraising intergeneration relationships through perspective-taking will enhance the well-being of adult-child caregivers. Incorporating both psychological and social perspectives, the study makes a unique contribution to address research gaps by evaluating an integrated model of intervention for dementia caregivers. The conceptual model involves the following components: 1) relational insights; 2) self-reflection to integrate the challenges and benefits in caregiving; 3) interpersonal empathy

To test the incremental value of perspective-taking reappraisals, the study involves a two-arm randomized controlled trial of 12 weeks of intervention with two conditions: 1) Reappraisal through Perspective Taking and 2) Basic Skill Building. Telephone-administered sessions are integrated with group sessions and home visits to maximize sustainability and accessibility of the intervention. One hundred fifty-four participants will be recruited and randomized. Primary outcomes are reduced depressive symptoms and enhanced psychological well-being for the caregivers. Secondary outcomes include enhanced social support for caregivers and reduced behavioral problems in the care-recipients.

Full description

The proposed study aims to address a major research gap in caregiving interventions in the context of intergeneration perspective-taking reappraisals. Adult child caregivers are part of a sandwich generation, involved in actualizing their own goals and coping with social expectations to care for their elderly parents. Dementia caregiving presents a particular challenge in life transition wherein the adult child is parenting his or her parents. With global aging, people living with dementia are rising exponentially. This presents a challenge for sustainable care in Hong Kong and also in countries where public services are developing and the demand for family and intergeneration caregiving is high due to collectivistic concerns. It is hypothesized that reappraising intergeneration relationships through perspective-taking will enhance the well-being of adult-child caregivers. Incorporating both psychological and social perspectives, the study makes a unique contribution to address research gaps by evaluating an integrated model of intervention for dementia caregivers. The conceptual model involves the following components: 1) relational insights; 2) self-reflection to integrate the challenges and benefits in caregiving; 3) interpersonal empathy.

Most caregiving psycho-education programs involve skill training including scheduling pleasant events, communicating with the care recipient and other family members. To test the incremental value of perspective-taking reappraisals, the study involves a two-arm randomized controlled trial of 12 weeks of intervention with two conditions: 1) Perspective Taking Reappraisal and 2) Basic Skill Building. Telephone-administered sessions are integrated with home visits to maximize sustainability and accessibility of the intervention. One hundred fifty-four participants will be recruited and randomized. Primary outcomes are reduced depressive symptoms and enhanced psychological well-being for the caregivers. Secondary outcomes include enhanced social support for caregivers and reduced behavioral problems in the care-recipients. Measures are obtained at baseline Weeks 1 (baseline), 6 and 12 with a follow-up at Week 24. Findings have implications for enhancing sustainable care for older adults in the wider society.

Enrollment: 154 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria are as follows

• Primary caregivers aged 20 or older and who have been caring for persons (aged 60 or above) with a physician diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in the mild to moderate range as determined by the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale.
• Primary caregivers who have been providing unpaid care for more than 12 hours a week for at least the past three months.
• The care should involve day-to-day decision-making as well as any of the following: feeding, dressing, bathing, toileting, housework, preparing meals, medication and handling finances.
• They can be daughter/son or daughter-/son-in-law of the care recipient.

Exclusion criteria are as follows:

• signs of severe intellectual deficits
• demonstrated suicidal ideation
• exhibited evidence of psychotic disorders
• hearing/ visual impairment
• inability to read or speak Chinese/Cantonese fluently and severe.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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154 participants in 2 patient groups

Perspective Taking Reappraisal

Experimental group

Description:

This arm focuses on reappraisals with perspective taking with a limited amount of basic skill building

Treatment:

Other: Basic Skill Building

Behavioral: Perspective Taking Reappraisal

Basic Skill Building

Other group

Description:

This arm focuses on basic skill building only.

Treatment:

Other: Basic Skill Building