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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| A systematic review of internet-based supportive interventions for caregivers of patients with dementia | | Author(s) | L M M Boots, M E de Vugt, R J M van Knippenberg |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 29, no 4, April 2014 |
| Publisher | Wiley Blackwell, April 2014 |
| Pages | pp 331-344 |
| Source | www.orangejournal.org |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Informal care ; Family care ; Therapeutics ; Internet ; Evaluation ; Literature reviews. |
| Annotation | Because of the expected increase in the number of dementia patients in the future there is an increasing need for effective caregiver interventions. Internet interventions hold considerable promise for meeting the educational and support needs of informal dementia caregivers at reduced costs. The current study aims to provide an overview of the evidence for the effectiveness, feasibility and quality of Internet interventions for informal caregivers of people with dementia. A systematic literature search of five scientific databases was performed covering literature published up to 2013. Twelve studies were identified. The quality of the included studies was assessed according to the Cochrane level of evidence and the criteria list of the Cochrane Back Review Group. The intervention types, dosage and duration differed widely, as did the methodological quality of the included studies. The overall level of evidence was low. However the results demonstrate that Internet interventions for informal dementia caregivers can improve various aspects of caregiver well-being, for example, confidence, depression and self-efficacy, provided they comprise multiple components and are tailored to the individual. Furthermore, caregivers could benefit from interaction with a coach and other caregivers. Internet interventions for informal dementia caregivers may improve caregiver well-being. However the available supporting evidence lacks methodological quality. More randomised controlled studies assessing interventions performed according to protocol are needed to give stronger statements about the effects of supportive Internet interventions and their most promising elements. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-150529247 A |
| Classmark | EA: P6: P6:SJ: LL: 3OB: 4C: 64A |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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