This study aims to assess the efficacy of social media-based electronic bibliotherapy in improving the well-being of informal caregivers of people with dementia compared to a control group.
This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the efficacy of social media-based electronic bibliotherapy in improving the well-being of informal caregivers. Sixty informal caregivers of people with dementia were recruited and randomly allocated to the social media-based electronic bibliotherapy group or usual care group. Participants in the social media-based electronic bibliotherapy group received eight weekly e-bibliotherapy sessions. The control group only accepted the usual care provided by community services, but they received the same intervention materials as the intervention group after project completion. Mental health, caregiving appraisal, health-related quality of life, and psychological well-being were measured to test the intervention's effects immediately after completion. Individual interviews were conducted to explore caregivers' experiences participating in this study within two weeks after completing the intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
Eight weekly sessions of bibliotherapy are delivered via their daily social media.
The routine services provided by community centers
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Changes in mental health
Mental health will be measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. It is a 4-point Likert scale consisting of 21 items that measure levels ofdepression, anxiety, and stress in participants. Higher scores indicategreater severity of mental health problems.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, post-intervention (i.e., within one week after completing the intervention)
Changes in health related quality of life
The health-related quality of life will be assessed using the 12-item Short Form Survey. It comprises two domains, namely the physical component summary and the mental component summary. Higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, post-intervention (i.e., within one week after completing the intervention)
Changes in caregiving appraisal
Caregiving appraisal will be assessed using the Caregiving Appraisal Scale. It is a 26-item Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Higher scores on this scale indicate more positive caregiving appraisal.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, post-intervention (i.e., within one week after completing the intervention)
Changes in psychological wellbeing
The psychological well-being will be assessed using the shorter Chinese version of Ryff's psychological well-being scale. This scale is a Likert 6-point scale (1=strongly disagree, 6=strongly agree) comprising 18 items. Higher scores indicate greater levels of psychological well-being.
Time frame: Pre-intervention, post-intervention (i.e., within one week after completing the intervention)
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