Articles: caregivers.
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Journal of music therapy · Jan 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of music and progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety, fatigue, and quality of life in family caregivers of hospice patients.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), and music combined with progressive muscle relaxation on the reduction of anxiety, fatigue, and improvement of quality of life in family hospice caregivers. Subjects (N = 32) were divided randomly into 4 groups: control, music only, progressive muscle relaxation only, and music combined with progressive muscle relaxation and were tested twice a week for a duration of 2 weeks. A pre and posttest measuring anxiety and fatigue was administered each session. ⋯ Statistical results indicated a significant difference in quality of life when comparing the subject sample as a whole across the four days of treatment period, F(1, 28) = 14.21, p < .01. Follow-up paired sample t test indicated that the control and PMR group exhibited a significant difference in pre and posttest quality of life scores. There was a significant correlation between anxiety and quality of life (r(32) = .75, p < .01), anxiety and fatigue (r(32) = .55, p < .01), and fatigue and quality of life (r(32) = -.53, p < .01).
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Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord · Jan 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyTranscultural influences in dementia care: observations from a psychosocial intervention study.
Various models of intervention for caregivers of patients with dementia have been described. There has been little direct comparison of cultural differences between countries and the effect any differences may exert on the outcome of caregiver interventions. ⋯ This first multinational carer intervention study has emphasised the similarities between the three countries whilst highlighting crucial differences which may be important when planning cross-cultural studies in the future. The positive results achieved on caregiver depression were replicated across the three centres.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Reminiscence groups for people with dementia and their family carers: pragmatic eight-centre randomised trial of joint reminiscence and maintenance versus usual treatment: a protocol.
The growing number of people with dementia, and the increasing cost of care, provides a major incentive to develop and test methods of supporting them in the community for longer. Most attention has been given to pharmacological interventions, but there is increasing recognition that psychosocial interventions may be equally effective, even preferable where medication has negative side-effects. Reminiscence groups, run by professionals and volunteers, which use photographs, recordings and other objects to trigger personal memories are probably the most popular therapeutic approach to working with people with dementia, but there is little evidence for their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. The recent inclusion of family carers in groups with people with dementia, notably in our own pilot studies, has generated informal evidence that this joint approach improves relationships between people with dementia and their carers, and benefits both. ⋯ Our Cochrane review (2005) on reminiscence therapy for people with dementia did not identify any rigorous trials or economic analyses in this field.
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialBefriending carers of people with dementia: a cost utility analysis.
There is very little evidence on the cost-effectiveness of social care interventions for people with dementia or their carers. The BEfriending and Costs of CAring trial (BECCA, ISRCTN08130075) aimed to establish whether a structured befriending service improved the quality of life of carers of people with dementia, and at what cost. ⋯ Befriending leads to a non-significant trend towards improved carer quality of life, and there is a non-significant trend towards higher costs for all sectors. It is unlikely that befriending is a cost-effective intervention from the point of view of society.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Brief problem-solving training for family caregivers of persons with recent-onset spinal cord injuries: a randomized controlled trial.
Our objective was to examine the effectiveness of a brief individualized problem-solving intervention for family with caregivers of persons with recent-onset spinal cord injury (SCI). Family caregivers were randomly assigned to a usual care control group (N=30) or an intervention group (N=30) in which participants were to receive three face-to-face problem-solving training sessions (PST), educational materials, and telephone contacts as requested over the first year of caregiving. The participants included 60 caregivers (49 women, 11 men). ⋯ There was also some indication that the intervention had beneficial effects on caregiver social and physical functioning. An intervention for new caregivers featuring brief PST, education, and contact may be associated with lower dysfunctional problem-solving styles over time and may promote certain aspects of caregiver quality of life. We also discuss limitations and implications of the present study.