1 Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
2 Schools of Social Work and Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018 May;33(3):176-183. doi: 10.1177/1533317517749466. Epub 2018 Jan 5.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE: Family caregivers of people with dementia must attend to medical care needs of their relative, yet few available resources address comorbidities in dementia. Consequently, caregivers feel ill-equipped when medical concerns arise. In response, an educational resource-Alzheimer's Medical Advisor ( AlzMed)-was developed in 2 forms (website and book) and evaluated.
Family caregivers (143 website and 51 book) used an educational resource that provides information on medical problems, vital signs, pain, dehydration, and the healthcare system. Data were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months regarding confidence in sign/symptom management, burden, depression, and anxiety.
Caregivers reported significantly improved confidence and (for website users) decreased role strain. Anxiety and depression also decreased, although not significantly. Improved confidence related to a reduction in role strain and anxiety, and care recipients did not experience adverse events.
An educational resource focusing on care of comorbid illness may benefit caregiver outcomes.
背景/理由:痴呆症患者的家庭护理人员必须照顾其亲属的医疗需求,但可用资源很少涉及痴呆症的合并症。因此,当出现医疗问题时,护理人员感到准备不足。有鉴于此,开发了一种教育资源——阿尔茨海默病医学顾问(AlzMed),它有两种形式(网站和书籍)并进行了评估。
家庭护理人员(143 名网站用户和 51 名书籍用户)使用了一种提供有关医疗问题、生命体征、疼痛、脱水和医疗保健系统信息的教育资源。在基线、3 个月和 6 个月时收集有关症状/体征管理、负担、抑郁和焦虑的信心、信心的数据。
护理人员报告说,他们在症状/体征管理方面的信心明显增强(对于网站用户而言),角色紧张感减轻。焦虑和抑郁也有所下降,尽管没有显著下降。信心的提高与角色紧张感和焦虑的减轻有关,而且护理对象没有出现不良事件。
专注于合并症护理的教育资源可能有益于护理人员的结果。