The goals of this clinical trial are to: 1) refine the training program, "Improving Care though Improv;" and 2) test the program for its influence self-perceived caregiving mastery (i.e., how persons assess their ability to provide care) among informal caregivers of persons living with moderate dementia. Forty-three informal caregivers will be involved in testing the training program. These individuals will be assigned to groups of between 8 to12 caregivers and take part in weekly 2-hour sessions held over a 4-week period. These caregivers will be taught improvisational (improv) theater skills, which involves being in the moment, self-awareness, and responsiveness to others. This group also will be asked to answer surveys questions about themselves and the person receiving care at three timepoints and invited to provide feedback on their training experiences.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
43
This intervention for informal caregivers consists of training that will introduce participants to improvisational (improv) theatre and teach its core communication skills.
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Pearlin Mastery, Loss, and Competence: Caregiver Competence Subscale
4-item Likert-type scale; scores range from 4 to 16 with higher scores indicating greater feelings of competence.
Time frame: at baseline, upon training completion (Week 4), and three months post baseline.
Perceived Stress Scale
14-item Likert-type scale. Scores range from 0 to 56 with higher scores indicating greater stress.
Time frame: at baseline, upon training completion (Week 4), and three months post baseline.
Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale
20-item Likert-type scale. Scores range from 0 to 60 with higher scores indicating greater depression.
Time frame: at baseline, upon training completion (Week 4), and three months post baseline.
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
20-item Likert-type scale. Scores range from 20 to 80 with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.
Time frame: at baseline, upon training completion (Week 4), and three months post baseline.
Zarit Burden Inventory
22-item scale with 4-point Likert scale responses. Scores range from 0 to 88 with higher scores indicating greater burden.
Time frame: at baseline, upon training completion (Week 4), and three months post baseline.
Revised Memory and Behavioral Problems Checklist - FREQUENCY
24-item scale with 4-point Likert scale responses. Scores range from 0 to 96 with higher scores indicating greater behavioral expressions observed by caregivers among persons living with dementia.
Time frame: at baseline, upon training completion (Week 4), and three months post baseline.
Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease Scale
13 items with a 4-point Likert scale. Scores range from 13 to with 52 with higher scores indicating greater quality of life among persons living with dementia
Time frame: at baseline, upon training completion (Week 4), and three months post baseline.
Revised Memory and Behavioral Problems Checklist - REACTION
24-item scale with 4-point Likert scale responses. Scores range from 0 to 96 with higher scores indicating greater behavioral expressions observed by caregivers among persons living with dementia.
Time frame: at baseline, upon training completion (Week 4), and three months post baseline.
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