Articles: caregivers.
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Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialWho participates in psychosocial interventions for caregivers of patients with dementia?
The purpose of the present study is to evaluate if the participants in psychosocial interventions for dementia caregivers are representative of the whole population of dementia patients or if some socioeconomic groups are over- or underrepresented. ⋯ The lower socioeconomic strata are clearly underrepresented in psychosocial interventions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effects of budesonide inhalation suspension compared with cromolyn sodium nebulizer solution on health status and caregiver quality of life in childhood asthma.
To compare the effects of 2 nebulizable controller asthma medications on caregiver and pediatric quality of life. ⋯ Budesonide inhalation suspension improved the quality of life for caregivers of children with asthma. Caregivers of children treated with budesonide had significantly fewer limitations in daily activities and emotional functioning compared with caregivers of children treated with cromolyn sodium nebulizer solution. The improvements in caregiver quality of life occurred earlier with budesonide compared with cromolyn sodium. Only caregivers in the budesonide group had a clinically important mean change from baseline in all PACQLQ domains by week 8. These benefits were maintained at week 52. Children treated with budesonide inhalation suspension and cromolyn sodium experienced improvements in health status, assessed using the FS-II(R). The greatest differences between treatments were seen in the disease-specific portion of the FS-II(R), which relates impairments in functional status to the child's illness. Caregiver and physician global assessment indicated significantly better overall child health after 1 year of treatment with budesonide, supporting an improvement in health status. Clinical trials in children 4 to 16 years of age with asthma have demonstrated greater effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids versus cromolyn sodium on several clinical measures of efficacy. Measures of asthma control in this study, reported in detail elsewhere [Leflein et al. Pediatrics 2002;109:866-872], also have shown greater improvements with budesonide therapy. Treatment with budesonide inhalation suspension resulted in a significantly lower mean rate of asthma exacerbations, significantly longer times to first asthma exacerbation, significantly longer times to first additional use of chronic asthma therapy, and significant improvements in asthma symptom scores and breakthrough medication use compared with cromolyn sodium therapy. Additionally, children receiving budesonide inhalation suspension experienced more symptom-free days and episode-free days compared with children receiving cromolyn sodium. Safety profiles were similar between the 2 treatment groups. Budesonide inhalation suspension was associated with significantly greater caregiver satisfaction, convenience, ease of use, and compliance compared with cromolyn sodium nebulizer solution. This greater caregiver satisfaction and quality of life may be related to the greater asthma control achieved in children treated with budesonide therapy compared with cromolyn sodium. In addition, the convenience of once- or twice-daily dosing with budesonide inhalation suspension, compared with 3- or 4-times-daily dosing of cromolyn sodium, may decrease caregiver burden and enhance the willingness of caregivers to adhere to treatment regimens prescribed for their young children with asthma. This effect on caregiver adherence could further improve treatment effectiveness. This is the first clinical trial comparing the effects of a nebulized corticosteroid with that of an alternative nebulized therapy on quality of life in young children with asthma and their families. Compared with nebulized cromolyn sodium, budesonide inhalation suspension not only provides better overall child health status and asthma management, but greater caregiver quality of life and greater caregiver satisfaction, convenience, ease of use, and compliance.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy of donepezil on maintenance of activities of daily living in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease and the effect on caregiver burden.
This study investigated the efficacy of donepezil treatment on activities of daily living (ADLs) and social functioning in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the possible benefits of this treatment on caregiving time and stress levels. ⋯ Donepezil demonstrated a significantly slower decline than placebo in instrumental and basic ADLs in these patients with moderate to severe AD. The ADL benefits in AD patients treated with donepezil were associated with less caregiving time and lower levels of caregiver stress.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Evaluation of a stroke family support organiser: a randomized controlled trial.
There is inconclusive evidence of the effectiveness of the Stroke Family Support Organiser (FSO) service. We report the results from a randomized controlled trial of the service. ⋯ The FSO service had no significant effect on mood, independence in activities of daily living, or reduction in caregiver strain, but it did increase knowledge of stroke and satisfaction with that knowledge. The results may not be representative of all FSO services, and the sample was small relative to the heterogeneity of the participants. However, results suggest that the policies and training procedures of FSOs need to be evaluated to ensure that a cost-effective service is being provided to stroke patients and their caregivers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Psychosocial intervention for dementia caregivers: what can it accomplish?
Research has shown that psychosocial intervention can have a significant benefit for patients and caregivers. Randomized controlled trials of psychosocial intervention for spouse-caregivers can improve social support and reduce depression among the caregivers and help prevent or postpone nursing home placement of their spouses with Alzheimer's disease.