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Do memory clinics improve the quality of life of carers? A randomized pilot trial
Author(s) -
Logiudice Dina,
Waltrowicz Wendy,
Brown Kaye,
Burrows Colin,
Ames David,
FLICKER Leon
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199908)14:8<626::aid-gps990>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - psychosocial , quality of life (healthcare) , dementia , memory clinic , randomized controlled trial , attendance , medicine , intervention (counseling) , social support , gerontology , cognition , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , cognitive impairment , nursing , disease , surgery , pathology , economics , economic growth , psychotherapist
Objective To determine the effects of attendance at a memory clinic on the psychosocial health of carers. Design Randomized control trial. Participants Fifty community dwelling subjects with mild to moderate dementia and their carers. Main outcome measures Carer burden, psychological morbidity and psychosocial health related quality of life at 6 and 12 months post intervention. Main results There was significant improvement in psychosocial health related quality of life of carers as measured by the psychosocial domain of the Functional Limitation Profile (FLP) at 6 months ( p <0.01), including improvement in the subgroups of alertness behaviour ( p <0.05) and social interaction ( p <0.01), after adjustment for age of subject and baseline scores. The improvement in social interaction was maintained at 12 months ( p <0.05). There was no significant difference in carer psychological morbidity (General Health Questionnaire), carer burden (Zarit family interview) or carer knowledge of dementia (Dementia Knowledge Test) at 6 or 12 months, between groups. Conclusions These results demonstrate improved psychosocial health related quality of life for carers of those with mild to moderate cognitive impairment attending a memory clinic. Further research in this area is indicated, comparing memory clinic intervention with alternative support. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.