The Family Caregiver Training Program for Caregivers of People With Dementia

Nova Southeastern University (NSU)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Dementia

Treatments: Behavioral: The Family Caregiver Training Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02649244

12181423Exp

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the Family Caregiver Training Program for caregivers of people with dementia, using a pretest posttest randomized control trial with 3-month follow-up. The Family Caregiver Training Program will consist of 3-hours and hence, three modules over the course of one day. Module one will present information on communication, eating, and nutrition, module two will focus on transfers and toileting, and module three will focus on bathing, grooming, and dressing. The control group will receive standard care as relevant to dementia family caregivers including general information on the progression of dementia, and helpful resources as suggested by the Alzheimer's Association. A convenience sample of 36 family caregivers will be recruited by flyers posted throughout local area community boards and Alzheimer's Association media outlets. A repeated measures ANOVA will be used to assess the group differences in knowledge and confidence at three time points (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-months post-intervention). Changes in caregiver burden, depression, quality of life, and occupational performance and satisfaction will be assessed 3-months post-intervention.

Full description

The main research question asks to what extent does participation in a structured 3-hour training module (i.e., The Family Caregiver Training Program) focused on assisting family caregiver's with the ADLs of people with dementia effect caregiver knowledge and confidence, which in turn may effect caregiver burden, depression, quality of life, and occupational performance and satisfaction. Aim 1 will examine the relationship between the Family Caregiver Training Program intervention and knowledge of and confidence in the occupation of caregiving. Aim 2 will explore the relationship between the occupation of caregiving and person characteristics including burden, depression, and quality of life. Aim 3 will explore the relationship between the changes in the occupation of caregiving and changes in occupational performance.

A feasibility of the Family Caregiver Training Program was established using a single pre- post- test design. A significant improvement in caregiver knowledge was found in all three areas of training: communication/nutrition (N=53, p<0.001), transfers and toileting (N=46, p=0.003), and bathing and dressing (N=45, p=0.10) (DiZazzo-Miller, Samuel, Barnas, & Welker, 2014). This proposed study is built on the feasibility study, with the addition of confidence, burden, depression, quality of life, and occupational performance and satisfaction as outcomes using a random assignment to control group design.

A convenience sample of 36 family caregivers was recruited through flyers, newsletters, and Alzheimer's Association media outlets. The intervention group received one two-hour training that included three modules. Module one presented information on communication, eating/feeding and nutrition; module two focused on transfers and toileting; and module three focused on bathing, grooming, and dressing. The control group received standard care based upon a packet developed by the Alzheimer's Association for physicians to distribute to families and caregivers after receiving a diagnosis of dementia.

Results from this study will be generalizable to Metro-Detroit area family caregivers. Findings may offer information to enhance the caregiver training literature in the field of occupational therapy on the impact a community-based activity of daily living training can have with dementia family caregivers.

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Primary family caregiver as providing at least 4 hours/day of care at least 5 days/week
2. At least 18 years of age
3. Able to read and understand the English language
4. Care recipients must have received an Alzheimer's or related dementia diagnosis

Exclusion criteria

1. Caregivers who provide less than 4 hours/day of care at least 5 days/week
2. Under 18 years of age
3. Unable to read or understand the English language
4. Have care recipients who have not received an Alzheimer's or related dementia diagnosis
5. Formally trained/paid caregivers

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

The Family Caregiver Training Program

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group received a 2 hour intervention training on activities of daily throughout the early, middle, and late stages of dementia including communication, eating/feeding, nutrition, bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and transferring.

Treatment:

Behavioral: The Family Caregiver Training Program

Standard Care

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group received a 1 1/2 hour training, however the information was based on what has been deemed standard care by the Alzheimer's Association.