Meta-Analysis of the psychosocial interventions for caregivers of people with dementiaCitation Brodaty, H., Green, A. & Koschera, A. (2003). Meta-Analysis of the psychosocial interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 51, 657-664. Design Meta-Analysis Purpose The purpose of this study was the review of 30 studies concerning informal caregivers and their psychological morbidity and burden. Participants Informal caregivers (persons providing unpaid care at home or in a non-institutional setting) Outcome / Dependent Variables Outcome variables in this meta-analysis were caregiver coping skills, social support combined with measures of psychological distress and burden. Procedure Results from 30 studies investigating caregivers: Counseling, Education, Support Groups, Stress Management and Training interventions. Outcomes Results indicated the following: Caregiver interventions have modest but significant benefits on caregiver knowledge, psychological morbidity, and other main outcome measures (such as coping skills and social support). Average patient in the treatment group was less depressed than about 62% of the patients in the control group. Caregivers were frequently satisfied or very satisfied with their interventions, appraised their own coping skills as improved, reported that their relationship with the patient had improved, identified helpful training elements, and most (71%) reported that they would use training again. Programs that involve the patients and their families and are more intensive and modified to caregivers' needs may be more successful.
Author Brodaty, H., Green, A. & Koschera, A. | 
