OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to test effectiveness of an mHealth based intervention through which community social workers can improve caregiving competence of non-European immigrant family caregivers of people with dementia living at home in Sweden. The overarching aim is to reduce caregiver burden and depressive symptoms, and improve quality of life.
METHODS: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) including wait list control group will be performed consisting of an intervention group (A, n = 44) and a wait list control group (B, n = 44), totaling a sample size of 88. On completion of the 10-weeks long intervention in the intervention group, the intervention will be delivered to group B. Effect of the intervention will be analyzed between and within groups over time. The content of the educational component of the intervention is inspired by the iSupport manual developed by the World Health Organization. The contents, in the form of a booklet, aims to equip the family caregivers with structured information on understanding dementia as a condition and its management at home, including self-care guidance designed specifically for family caregivers themselves.
CONCLUSIONS: Similar telephone-delivered intervention studies targeted for family caregivers to persons with dementia are ongoing in Malaysia and will start in India using the same booklet adapted to the local context. These studies will provide evidence on the effectiveness of using digital technologies to deliver support to those who may not be reached or adequately served by the traditional healthcare system.
BACKGROUND: ISRCTN registry, Registration number ISRCTN64235563.
目的:该研究的目的是测试基于mHealth的干预措施的有效性,通过该干预措施,社区社会工作者可以提高非欧洲移民家庭照顾者在瑞典家中生活的痴呆症患者的护理能力。首要目标是减少照顾者的负担和抑郁症状,提高生活质量。
方法:将进行一项包括等待列表对照组的随机对照试验(RCT),其中包括一个干预组(A,n=44)和等待列表控制组(B,n=44),总样本量为88。干预组完成为期10周的干预后,干预措施将交付到B组。随着时间的推移,将在组间和组内分析干预措施的效果。干预措施的教育部分的内容受到世界卫生组织开发的iSupport手册的启发。内容,以小册子的形式,旨在为家庭护理人员提供结构化的信息,以了解痴呆症的状况及其在家中的管理,包括专门为家庭照顾者自己设计的自我保健指导。
结论:马来西亚正在进行类似的针对痴呆症患者家庭照顾者的电话干预研究,并将在印度开始使用适合当地情况的小册子。这些研究将为使用数字技术向那些可能无法通过传统医疗保健系统获得或充分服务的人提供支持的有效性提供证据。
背景:ISRCTN注册表,注册号ISRCTN64235563。