Centre for Care Research & Consultancy(LUCAS), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Centre for Care Research & Consultancy(LUCAS), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
BMJ Open. 2021 Jan 25;11(1):e047529. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047529.
Caring for people with cognitive problems can have an impact on informal caregivers' health and well-being, and especially increases pressure on healthcare systems due to an increasing ageing society. In response to a higher demand of informal care, evidence suggests that timely support for informal caregivers is essential. The New York University Caregiver Intervention (NYUCI) has proven consistent effectiveness and high adaptability over 30 years. This study has three main objectives: to develop and evaluate the Flemish adaptation of the NYUCI in the context of caregiving for older people with early cognitive decline; to explore the causal mechanism of changes in caregivers' health and well-being and to evaluate the validity and feasibility of the interRAI Family Carer Needs Assessment in Flanders.
Guided by Medical Research Council framework, this study covers the development and evaluation phases of the adapted NYUCI, named PROACTIVE-suPpoRting infOrmal cAregivers of older people with early CogniTIVe declinE. In the development phase, we will identify the evidence base and prominent theory, and develop the PROACTIVE intervention in the Flemish context. In the evaluation phase, we will evaluate the PROACTIVE intervention with a pretest and posttest design in 1 year. Quantitative data will be collected with the BelRAI Screener, the BelRAI Social Supplement and the interRAI Family Carer Needs Assessment at baseline and follow-up points (at 4, 8 and 12 months). Qualitative data will be collected using counselling logs, evaluation forms and focus groups. Quantitative data and qualitative data will be analysed with SAS 9.4 software and NVivo software, respectively. Efficacy and process evaluation of the intervention will be performed.
This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of KU Leuven with a dossier number G-2020-1771-R2(MAR). Findings will be disseminated through community information sessions, peer-reviewed publications and national and international conference presentations.
照顾认知问题患者会对非专业照护者的健康和幸福感产生影响，而且由于社会老龄化程度不断提高，这尤其增加了医疗保健系统的压力。为了应对对非专业照护的更高需求，有证据表明，及时为非专业照护者提供支持至关重要。纽约大学照护者干预（NYUCI）在 30 多年的时间里证明了其始终如一的有效性和高度适应性。本研究有三个主要目标：一是在为有早期认知衰退的老年人提供照护的背景下，制定和评估纽约大学照护者干预的弗拉芒语适应性版本；二是探索照护者健康和幸福感变化的因果机制；三是评估 interRAI 家庭照护者需求评估在弗拉芒语中的有效性和可行性。
本研究以医疗研究委员会框架为指导，涵盖了经适应性调整的 NYUCI（名为 PROACTIVE-支持有早期认知衰退的老年人的非专业照护者）的开发和评估阶段。在开发阶段，我们将确定证据基础和突出理论，并在弗拉芒语背景下制定 PROACTIVE 干预措施。在评估阶段，我们将在 1 年内采用预测试和后测试设计对 PROACTIVE 干预措施进行评估。将使用 BelRAI 筛查器、BelRAI 社会补充和 interRAI 家庭照护者需求评估在基线和随访点（4、8 和 12 个月）收集定量数据。将使用咨询日志、评估表和焦点小组收集定性数据。将分别使用 SAS 9.4 软件和 NVivo 软件分析定量数据和定性数据。将对干预措施的疗效和过程进行评估。
本研究已获得鲁汶天主教大学伦理委员会的批准，文件编号为 G-2020-1771-R2（MAR）。研究结果将通过社区信息会议、同行评议出版物以及国家和国际会议演讲进行传播。
