Effects of a psychoeducational intervention in family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Cinthia Costa Ponce,Tiago Nascimento Ordonez,Luciane De Fátima Viola,Paula Villela Nunes,Orestes Vicente Forlenza,Glenda Dias Dos Santos,Meire Cachioni,Thaís Bento Lima-Silva

doi:10.1590/s1980-57642011dn05030011

Cinthia Costa Ponce, Tiago Nascimento Ordonez + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-57642011dn05030011

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Journal: Dementia & Neuropsychologia	Publication Date: Sep 1, 2011
Citations: 15	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo

Abstract

Psychoeducational activities are a way of promoting help for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, representing a forum for knowledge sharing, and in which the primary focus is on psychological themes aimed at carers developing coping skills and strategies.Objective The main objective of this study was to gauge perceptions about care and its impact among family caregivers of patients with AD participating in a psychoeducational group intervention, as well as the possible positive and negative aspects associated with this role. The subjective impact of AD on the lives of these caregivers was assessed on each of the dimensions of the Caregiver Burden Scale using a semi-directed interview on perceptions about care.Methods This was a prospective study, in which information was collected twice, before and after, psychoeducational intervention. Through the application of the scale, benefits were evident for all dimensions assessed in the instrument (general strain, isolation, disappointment, emotional involvement and environment).Results The results showed that after the psychoeducational intervention, caregivers felt less burdened by care compared to pre-intervention. Conclusion: These findings confirm that expanded implementation of psychoeducational interventions for caregivers of patients with AD can be beneficial for both caregivers and patients.

Highlights

Psychoeducational activities are a way of promoting help for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, representing a forum for knowledge sharing, and in which the primary focus is on psychological themes aimed at carers developing coping skills and strategies
The present study was performed in a sample comprising 17 caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
In terms of the care profile, 58.9% of caregivers had never cared for another person, and 52.9% did not share the task of caring with any one (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Abstract – Psychoeducational activities are a way of promoting help for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, representing a forum for knowledge sharing, and in which the primary focus is on psychological themes aimed at carers developing coping skills and strategies. Objective: The main objective of this study was to gauge perceptions about care and its impact among family caregivers of patients with AD participating in a psychoeducational group intervention, as well as the possible positive and negative aspects associated with this role. The subjective impact of AD on the lives of these caregivers was assessed on each of the dimensions of the Caregiver Burden Scale using a semi-directed interview on perceptions about care. Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi levantar as percepções sobre o cuidar e seu impacto entre cuidadores familiares de portadores de DA, participantes de um Grupo de Intervenção Psicoeducativa.

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Results

Conclusion