Faculté des sciences infirmières, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Gerontologist. 2011 Aug;51(4):484-94. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnr014. Epub 2011 Mar 7.
The purpose of this experimental study was to test the efficacy of a psychoeducational individual program conceived to facilitate transition to the caregiver role following diagnosis of Alzheimer disease in a relative.
Caregivers were recruited in memory clinics and randomized to an experimental group (n = 62) or a control group (n = 49) receiving usual care. Eligible participants-primary caregivers of a relative diagnosed with Alzheimer in the past 9 months-were assessed blindly before randomization, at the end of the program (post-test), and 3 months later (follow-up) on different outcomes associated with healthy role transition.
The analyses indicated that at post-test and follow-up, caregivers in the experimental group were more confident in dealing with caregiving situations, perceived themselves to be better prepared to provide care and more efficacious in their caregiver role, were better able to plan for the future care needs of their relative, had better knowledge of available services, and made more frequent use of the coping strategies of problem solving and reframing. The program had no significant effect on use of stress-management strategies, perceived informal support and family conflicts.
This program underscores that a proactive intervention approach from the onset of the care trajectory is key to fostering caregiver adaptation to the new challenges they must meet.
本实验研究旨在测试一种心理教育个体项目的疗效，该项目旨在帮助阿尔茨海默病患者的家属在确诊后顺利过渡到照顾者角色。
在记忆诊所招募了照顾者，并将其随机分为实验组（n=62）和对照组（n=49），分别接受常规护理。合格的参与者是在过去 9 个月内被诊断出患有阿尔茨海默病的亲属的主要照顾者，他们在随机分组前、计划结束时（后测）和 3 个月后（随访）进行了盲法评估，评估内容与健康角色过渡相关的不同结果。
分析表明，在后测和随访时，实验组的照顾者在处理照顾情况时更有信心，认为自己在照顾方面准备更充分、更有效，更能为亲属的未来照顾需求做好规划，对可用服务有更好的了解，更频繁地使用解决问题和重新定义的应对策略。该计划对压力管理策略、感知到的非正式支持和家庭冲突的使用没有显著影响。
该计划强调，从护理轨迹开始就采取积极主动的干预方法是促进照顾者适应新挑战的关键。
