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A quasi‐experimental study of the effectiveness of the Reitman Centre CARERS group intervention on family caregivers of persons with dementia
Author(s) -
Sadavoy Joel,
Sajedinejad Sima,
Chiu Mary
Publication year - 2021
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/gps.5481
Subject(s) - dementia , competence (human resources) , coping (psychology) , psychology , randomized controlled trial , intervention (counseling) , clinical psychology , family caregivers , gerontology , medicine , psychiatry , disease , pathology , social psychology , surgery
Objectives This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Reitman Centre CARERS program on key outcomes in family caregivers (CGs) of people with dementia (PWD). The Reitman Centre CARERS program is an innovative, group psychotherapeutic skills‐training intervention based on integrated problem solving techniques (PST), simulation learning and group psychotherapy designed to address each CGs' unique situation. Method Family CGs of PWD ( n = 264) that were referred to Reitman Center and the partner sites were evaluated before and after completion of the 8‐week CARERS program in comparison with a wait‐list control group ( n = 83) who received regular care in a quasi‐experimental, non‐randomized, multiple group, multisite trial. General linear model was used to compare the results after adjusting for baseline measures and changes in the care recipients' daily activities (Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living). Results The results indicated the effectiveness and superiority of the CARERS program over usual care on measures of CG's perceived stress, depression, burden, competence, role overload, emotion and avoidance‐focused coping. Conclusion The CARERS program as a multi‐component intervention is an effective intervention that significantly improves functioning, coping skills and well‐being of dementia CGs.