Effectiveness of online psychological intervention for caregivers on the quality of life of people with Alzheimer disease: a randomized clinical trial protocol

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a significant impact on the quality of life (QOL) and interventions aimed at their improvement show inconclusive results. Objectives were study protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent caregiver intervention on the QOL of persons with AD. Methods: The design is a randomized clinical trial with blinded assessment of response variables. Ninety-four dyads of informal caregivers and their relatives with AD will be recruited in the Osona and Ripollès territorial service of geriatrics and palliative care of the Consorci Hospitalari de Vic (Osona, Spain) and randomized into experimental (EG) and control group (CG). An 8-week online multicomponent psychological intervention including psychoeducation and mindfulness will be provided to the EG caregivers. The CG will perform the usual care. Outcome will be the QOL of persons with AD assessed with the QOL-AD. Conclusions: The multicomponent online caregiver research detailed in this protocol could be incorporated into health and care facilities for persons with AD and their families to improve caregiving and QOL.