Background: To explore the effectiveness of a psychoeducational intervention against support groups and the usual care in caregivers. Providing care involves major changes in the lives of caregivers, with far-reaching repercussions. There is evidence that acting upon its mediator variables reduces its effects. Methods: A randomised controlled trial will be carried out. The study will be conducted at the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Salamanca (USAL) in Spain. Family caregivers of people with dementia will participate in this study. The participants will be divided into three groups: the intervention group (IG), which will undergo a psychoeducational intervention programme, the support group (SG) (control group - placebo), which will undergo a support group intervention programme, and the control group-waiting lists (CG), which will only be assessed at the different measurements points, and after the end of the programme they will be offered the intervention of the experimental group. The programme (IG) will comprise eight sessions over a period of two months. All participants will be assessed at the outset and conclusion of the study, as well as after three and six months, during which time data regarding their socio-demographic characteristics and responses to the different scales will be collected. Both mediator and negative outcome variables will be assessed. Discussion: Effective interventions need to be developed to improve the biopsychosocial state of caregivers. The presented psychoeducational intervention may help family caregivers because it could be more effective than others. The psychoeducational intervention has the aim of improving quality of life, problem-solving and social skills, leisure time, self-efficacy and social support of caregivers; and decreasing their depressive symptomology, dysfunctional thoughts, burden and stress.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
35
The psychoeducational intervention has the aim of improving quality of life, problem-solving and social skills, leisure time, self-efficacy and social support of caregivers; and decreasing their depressive symptomology, dysfunctional thoughts, burden and stress. Both mediator and outcome variables will be contemplated.
This intervention is a placebo group. It has the typical structure and characteristics of this type of intervention
Participants were not subject to any intervention. They received the psychoeducational intervention once the study had ended.
Faculty of Psychology, University of Salamanca
Salamanca, Castille and León, Spain
Quality of life. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment - AGE (WHOQOL-AGE)
It was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment - AGE (WHOQOL-AGE). It contains 13 items in a Likert-type format with five options consisting of a combination of bipolar and unipolar responses. A higher score corresponds to a better quality of life
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
Stress. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Use was made of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). It consists of 14 items which assesses the level of stress the subject has perceived over the past month (from 0 = never to 4 = very often). The higher the direct score recorded, the higher the level of perceived stress.
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
Depressive symptomology. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D)
This was assessed through the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). It consists of 20 items which assess whether an individual has manifested any of the symptoms of depression during the preceding week (from 0 = rarely or never to 3 = mostly or all the time). A higher score corresponds to a greater depressive symptomology .
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
Burden. The Caregiver Burden Interview (CBI)
It was assessed using the Caregiver Burden Interview (CBI). It consists of 22 items which measures the extent to which caregivers perceive that their duties put a burden on their health, personal and social lives, finances, and emotional wellbeing (from 1 = never through to 5 = almost always). A higher score signals a greater burden.
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
Dysfunctional thoughts. Dysfunctional Thoughts Questionnaire.
The assessment used the Dysfunctional Thoughts Questionnaire. It measures the thoughts, opinions, values and attitudes of the caregivers of dependent elderly people (from 0 = completely disagree to 4 = completely agree) through 16 items. A higher score indicates the greater presence of obstacles for properly coping with caregiving.
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
Social support. The Psychosocial Support Questionnaire (PSQ)
This involved an adapted version of the Psychosocial Support Questionnaire (PSQ). It consists of six items (from 0 = never to 3 = always). The higher the score, the greater the perception of psychosocial support.
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
Social Skills. Social Skills Scale.
It was used the Social Skills Scale. It rates assertive behaviour and social skills (from 1 = it does not reflect me at all; it hardly ever happens to me, or I would not do it, to 4 = I completely agree and I would feel this way or act accordingly in most cases) through 33 items. The higher the global score, the greater the social skills.
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
Self-efficacy in caregiving. The Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (RSCSE).
The assessment used the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (RSCSE). It assesses caregivers' own measure of their perceived self-efficacy for caregiving tasks through 15 items. It contains three subscales: Obtaining Respite, Responding to Disruptive Patient Behaviour, and Controlling Upsetting Thoughts. High scores reflect a significant level of self-efficacy.
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
Rewarding activities. The Leisure Time Satisfaction (LTS) scale
This was assessed thought an adapted version of the Leisure Time Satisfaction (LTS) scale. It consists of six items related to different leisure activities. It measures the frequency of performance (from 0 = not at all to 2 = a lot for) and the degree of satisfaction (from 0 = not at all satisfied to 2 = very) with it regarding rewarding activities in the past month. These are two scales with the same items. Higher scores correspond to a greater frequency and satisfaction with these activities.
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
Problem-solving skills. The Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R-25)
This involved the Spanish version of the short form of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R-25). It measures problem-solving skills (from 0 = not at all true to 4 = completely true). Higher scores indicate better social problem-solving.
Time frame: Baseline; after 8 weeks; 3 and 6 months follow up
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