Abstract
Abstract
Background
The workload associated with caring for a person with dementia (PwD) could negatively affect informal caregivers’ physical and mental health. According to the recent literature, there is a need for studies testing the implementation of affordable and accessible interventions for improving caregivers’ well-being.
Aims
This study aimed to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of an 8 week eHealth psychoeducation intervention held during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy in reducing the psychological burden and neuroendocrine markers of stress in caregivers of PwD.
Methods
Forty-one informal caregivers of PwD completed the eHealth psychoeducation intervention. Self-reported (i.e., caregiver burden, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and caregiver self-efficacy) and cortisol measurements were collected before and after the intervention.
Results
Following the intervention, the caregivers’ self-efficacy regarding the ability to respond to disruptive behaviours improved (t = − 2.817, p = 0.007), anxiety and burden levels decreased (state anxiety: t = 3.170, p = 0.003; trait anxiety: t = 2.327, p = 0.025; caregiver burden: t = 2.290, p = 0.027), while depressive symptoms and cortisol levels did not change significantly. Correlation analyses showed that the increase in self-efficacy was positively associated with the improvement of caregiver burden from pre- to post-intervention (r = 0.386, p = 0.014). The intervention had a low rate of dropout (n = 1, due to the patient’s death) and high levels of appreciation.
Discussion
The positive evidence and participation rate support the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed eHealth psychoeducational intervention to meet the need for knowledge of disease management and possibly reduce detrimental effects on caregivers’ psychological well-being.
Conclusion
Further placebo-controlled trials are needed to test the generalizability and specificity of our results.
Funder
Fondazione della Comunità Bresciana
Ministero della Salute
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Geriatrics and Gerontology,Aging