THE EFFECTS OF AN INTENSIVE DEMENTIA CAREGIVER TRAINING COURSE ON CAREGIVER KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEIVED COMPETENCE

Abstract

Inadequate training and support can lead to higher levels of caregiver stress and burnout, and puts the individual with dementia at an increased risk for adverse health-related outcomes (Schulz & Martire, 2004). We evaluated the effectiveness of an intensive, one-day caregiver training in improving dementia caregiver knowledge and perceived competence. One-hundred sixty-seven caregivers (77% female; 71% >55 years old; 54% White, non-Hispanic; 87% family caregivers) for community-dwelling adults with dementia attended an intensive one-day training (“Caregiver Bootcamp”) led by UCLA experts in dementia care. The bootcamp was organized into interactive didactic sessions, including topics such as home safety, behavior management, care transitions, and stress reduction. Caregivers completed pre- and post- measures of perceived competence (Caregiver Competency Scale), and a knowledge test of dementia caregiving techniques developed for the bootcamp. A survey assessing the overall caregiver experience and satisfaction with the bootcamp was also administered. In addition, caregivers completed a measure of caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview-Short Version) prior to the bootcamp. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to compare scores on pre- and post- test measures. After participating in an intensive bootcamp, caregivers’ perceived self-competence [t (104) = 4.00, p < .001] and self-reported knowledge of dementia caregiving techniques [t (76) = 6.59, p <.001] significantly improved. Furthermore, 84% of caregivers rated the bootcamp as “Excellent,” expressing high overall satisfaction with the quality of the program. Non-white and male caregivers reported higher levels of burden compared to white caregivers or female caregivers [t (151) = 1.72, p =.08; t (160) = 2.17, p =.03]. Six months after completing a bootcamp, follow-up survey indicated that attendees’ self-reported knowledge of dementia caregiving techniques continued to improve from pre-test scores [F(1.894, 7.575) = 9.913, p=.008]. An intensive, one-day bootcamp is well-received by participants, and is effective in improving caregiver competence and knowledge. Future work will evaluate whether the effects of intensive caregiver training are sustained over time and its effects on subgroups of caregivers who may be susceptible to higher levels of burden.