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Rapaport P, Amador S, Adeleke M, Banerjee S, Barber J, Charlesworth G, Clarke C, Connell C, Espie C, Gonzalez L, Horsley R, Hunter R, Kyle SD, Manela M, Morris S, Pikett L, Raczek M, Thornton E, Walker Z, Webster L, Livingston G. Clinical and cost-effectiveness of DREAMS START (Dementia RElAted Manual for Sleep; STrAtegies for RelaTives) for people living with dementia and their carers: a study protocol for a parallel multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e075273. [PMID: 38307536 PMCID: PMC10836385 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Many people living with dementia experience sleep disturbance and there are no known effective treatments. Non-pharmacological treatment options should be the first-line sleep management. For family carers, relatives' sleep disturbance leads to interruption of their sleep, low mood and breakdown of care. Our team developed and delivered DREAMS START (Dementia RElAted Manual for Sleep; STrAtegies for RelaTives), a multimodal non-pharmacological intervention, showing it to be feasible and acceptable. The aim of this randomised controlled trial is to establish whether DREAMS START is clinically cost-effective in reducing sleep disturbances in people living with dementia living at home compared with usual care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We will recruit 370 participant dyads (people living with dementia and family carers) from memory services, community mental health teams and the Join Dementia Research Website in England. Those meeting inclusion criteria will be randomised (1:1) either to DREAMS START or to usual treatment. DREAMS START is a six-session (1 hour/session), manualised intervention delivered every 1-2 weeks by supervised, non-clinically trained graduates. Outcomes will be collected at baseline, 4 months and 8 months with the primary outcome being the Sleep Disorders Inventory score at 8 months. Secondary outcomes for the person with dementia (all proxy) include quality of life, daytime sleepiness, neuropsychiatric symptoms and cost-effectiveness. Secondary outcomes for the family carer include quality of life, sleep disturbance, mood, burden and service use and caring/work activity. Analyses will be intention-to-treat and we will conduct a process evaluation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION London-Camden & Kings Cross Ethics Committee (20/LO/0894) approved the study. We will disseminate our findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and at national and international conferences. This research has the potential to improve sleep and quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers, in a feasible and scalable intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN13072268.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penny Rapaport
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Amador
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mariam Adeleke
- Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sube Banerjee
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Julie Barber
- Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Georgina Charlesworth
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Rainham, UK
| | | | | | - Colin Espie
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lina Gonzalez
- Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Rachael Hunter
- Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Simon D Kyle
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Monica Manela
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Morris
- Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Darlington, UK
| | - Liam Pikett
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Malgorzata Raczek
- Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
| | - Emma Thornton
- Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Darlington, UK
| | - Zuzana Walker
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lucy Webster
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gill Livingston
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
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Wilson CF, Turnbull S. Connecting, learning, supporting: Caregivers' experiences of a stress and distress biopsychosocial group intervention. Dementia (London) 2024; 23:23-40. [PMID: 37897035 PMCID: PMC10798010 DOI: 10.1177/14713012231207946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family caregivers are fundamental in supporting people living with dementia to remain at home, however, psychological distress can occur as a result of their caring role. Research into interventions for caregivers of people living with young-onset dementia, including their experience of and the mediating processes of such interventions, remains limited. METHODS An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis explored caregiver experiences and influence on caregiving of participating in a "Responding to Distress in Dementia" group. Five family caregivers were interviewed with discussions covering the period from first noticing symptoms to the interview session. RESULTS Within the group experience, four superordinate themes were identified: 'connecting to other caregivers', 'learning about caregiving', 'group factors' and 'reduced caregiver distress'. During the post-group period, three superordinate themes were recognised: 'maintaining support', 'applying learning', and 'normalising caregiving'. CONCLUSIONS The study highlighted several interrelated themes involving creating connections amongst caregivers with similar experiences, social learning, and supportive learning through group structure and facilitation. Many of the processes reflected those found in existing dementia caregiver intervention research. Recommendations included facilitating peer support groups and exploring whole-family approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig F Wilson
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Sue Turnbull
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK
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Patel R, Evans I, Stoner CR, Spector A. Investigating the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Impact of a Brief Dementia Awareness for Caregivers (DAC) Course: A Mixed Methods Study. Clin Interv Aging 2023; 18:1923-1935. [PMID: 38020448 PMCID: PMC10676089 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s429556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim Informal caregivers are vital in assisting people with dementia. However, this role can significantly impact caregivers' lives and interventions to support them are crucial. This study aimed to develop a United Kingdom version of the Dementia Awareness for Caregivers (DAC) course and to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of delivering the course online to informal dementia caregivers. Methods This study comprised a mixed-methods pre-post intervention parallel group design. Fifty-one informal dementia caregivers were randomized into either an experimental (receiving the DAC course) or control group (treatment as usual). Outcomes relating to perceived burden, attitude, competence, relationship quality and positive caregiving aspects were measured at baseline and follow-up, alongside statistics relating to recruitment, retention, attendance, and adherence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore qualitative acceptability and impact among caregivers who completed the DAC course. Results The study found high retention and attendance rates with low levels of unexplained attrition. Analysis indicated positive change for four of the outcome measures in favor of the DAC course, however this was not statistically significant. Qualitative analysis generated 11 subthemes organized into four overarching main themes; "acceptability of course", "impact of course on caregivers", "using skills from course" and "outcome measures". Conclusion Findings provide promising evidence for the feasibility, acceptability and impact of the Dementia Awareness for Caregivers course when delivered online to informal caregivers in the United Kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ria Patel
- Faculty of Brain Sciences, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Isabelle Evans
- Faculty of Brain Sciences, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Charlotte R Stoner
- Centre for Chronic Illness and Ageing, Institute of Life Course Development, School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, London, SE10 9LS, UK
| | - Aimee Spector
- Faculty of Brain Sciences, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The prevalence of dementia is increasing, while new opportunities for diagnosing, treating and possibly preventing Alzheimer's disease and other dementia disorders are placing focus on the need for accurate estimates of costs in dementia. Considerable methodological heterogeneity creates challenges for synthesising the existing literature. This study aimed to estimate the costs for persons with dementia in Europe, disaggregated into cost components and informative patient subgroups. METHODS We conducted an updated literature review searching PubMed, Embase and Web of Science for studies published from 2008 to July 2021 reporting empirically based cost estimates for persons with dementia in European countries. We excluded highly selective or otherwise biased reports, and used a random-effects meta-analysis to produce estimates of mean costs of care across five European regions. RESULTS Based on 113 studies from 17 European countries, the estimated mean costs for all patients by region were highest in the British Isles (73,712 EUR), followed by the Nordics (43,767 EUR), Southern (35,866 EUR), Western (38,249 EUR), and Eastern Europe and Baltics (7938 EUR). Costs increased with disease severity, and the distribution of costs over informal and formal care followed a North-South gradient with Southern Europe being most reliant on informal care. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this study represents the most extensive meta-analysis of the cost for persons with dementia in Europe to date. Though there is considerable heterogeneity across studies, much of this is explained by identifiable factors. Further standardisation of methodology for capturing resource utilisation data may further improve comparability of future studies. The cost estimates presented here may be of value for cost-of-illness studies and economic evaluations of novel diagnostic technologies and therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linus Jönsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
| | - Ashley Tate
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Oskar Frisell
- Institute of Health Economics (IHE), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Wimo
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
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Blanco V, Otero P, Vázquez FL. A pilot study for a smartphone app for the prevention of depression in non-professional caregivers. Aging Ment Health 2023; 27:166-175. [PMID: 35352600 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2056878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a cognitive-behavioral prevention intervention administered through a smartphone app in non-professional caregivers with symptoms of depression. The secondary objective was to make a preliminary evaluation of its effectiveness either alone or supplemented with telephone conference calls. METHODS Eighty-seven participants (Mage = 51.8 years) were randomly assigned to an app-based cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBIA; n = 29), CBIA supplemented with telephone conference calls (CBIA + CC; n = 28), or an attention control group (ACG; n = 30). The participants for both interventions received five cognitive-behavioral modules through the app, and those in CBIA + CC an additional 30-minute phone call in each module. RESULTS 3.4% of caregivers dropped out. In all groups, the number of modules completed was high. Participants completed a high percentage of the homework and were highly satisfied with both CBIA and CBIA + CC. At post-intervention, there was a lower incidence of depression and depressive symptoms for CBIA + CC compared with CBIA, and for CBIA and CBIA + CC compared with ACG. CONCLUSION The results supported the feasibility and acceptability of the cognitive-behavioral intervention, and demonstrated that telephone contact improves its effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Patricia Otero
- Department of Psychology, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Fernando L Vázquez
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Guzzon A, Rebba V, Paccagnella O, Rigon M, Boniolo G. The value of supportive care: A systematic review of cost-effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for dementia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285305. [PMID: 37172047 PMCID: PMC10180718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Almost 44 million people are currently living with dementia worldwide. This number is set to increase threefold by 2050, posing a serious threat to the sustainability of healthcare systems. Overuse of antipsychotic drugs for the management of the symptoms of dementia carries negative consequences for patients while also increasing the health expenditures for society. Supportive care (SC) interventions could be considered a safer and potentially cost-saving option. In this paper we provide a systematic review of the existing evidence regarding the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of SC interventions targeted towards persons living with dementia and their caregivers. METHODS A systematic literature review was performed between February 2019 and December 2021 through searches of the databases PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library, CENTRAL, Embase and PsycINFO. The search strategy was based on PRISMA 2020 recommendations. We considered studies published through December 2021 with no lower date limit. We distinguished between five categories of SC strategies: cognitive therapies, physical activity, indirect strategies (organisational and environmental changes), interventions primarily targeted towards family caregivers, and multicomponent interventions. RESULTS Of the 5,479 articles retrieved, 39 met the inclusion criteria. These studies analysed 35 SC programmes located at different stages of the dementia care pathway. Eleven studies provided evidence of high cost-effectiveness for seven interventions: two multicomponent interventions; two indirect interventions; two interventions aimed at caregivers of community-dwelling persons with dementia; one community-based cognitive stimulation and occupational programme. CONCLUSION We find that the most promising SC strategies in terms of cost-effectiveness are multicomponent interventions (targeted towards both nursing home residents and day-care service users), indirect strategies (group living and dementia care management at home), some forms of tailored occupational therapy, together with some psychosocial interventions for caregivers of community-dwelling persons with dementia. Our results suggest that the adoption of effective SC interventions may increase the economic sustainability of dementia care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Guzzon
- CRIEP (Interuniversity Research Centre on Public Economics), Veneto, Italy
- Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Rebba
- CRIEP (Interuniversity Research Centre on Public Economics), Veneto, Italy
- Department of Economics and Management "Marco Fanno", University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Omar Paccagnella
- Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Boniolo
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Redley M, Poland F, Coleston-Shields DM, Stanyon M, Yates J, Streater A, Orrell M. Practitioners' Views on Enabling People With Dementia to Remain in Their Homes During and After Crisis. J Appl Gerontol 2022; 41:2549-2556. [PMID: 36006899 DOI: 10.1177/07334648221118557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One way of supporting people living with dementia is assisting them to live in their homes (as opposed to being admitted to hospital or other facility) and providing them with a specialist service that responds to crises. This makes it important to understand how best to organize such crisis response services. This study examines practitioners' actions to reduce inpatient admissions among this population. Through interviews with healthcare practitioners, we find that practitioners negotiate a complex intersection between (1) what constitutes a crisis in relation to the patient and/or the carer, (2) the demands of building a working relationship with both the patient and their family carers, and (3) ensuring effective communications with social services responsible for long-term community support. Findings suggest that policies aimed at reducing admissions should be based on a model of care that more closely maps practitioners' relational and bio-medical work in these services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Redley
- 6106School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,2152Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fiona Poland
- 6106School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Miriam Stanyon
- 6123Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jennifer Yates
- 6123Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Amy Streater
- 6123Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Research and Development, Northeast London NHS Foundation Trust, Ilford, London, UK
| | - Martin Orrell
- 6123Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Chester H, Beresford R, Clarkson P, Entwistle C, Gillan V, Hughes J, Orrell M, Pitts R, Russell I, Symonds E, Challis D. Implementing the Dementia Early Stage Cognitive Aids New Trial (DESCANT) intervention: mixed-method process evaluation alongside a pragmatic randomised trial. Aging Ment Health 2022; 26:667-678. [PMID: 33438441 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2020.1870204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The DESCANT (Dementia Early Stage Cognitive Aids New Trial) intervention provided a personalised care package designed to improve the cognitive abilities, function and well-being of people with early-stage dementia and their carers, by providing a range of memory aids, together with appropriate training and support. This sub-study aimed to assess implementation and identify contextual factors potentially associated with participant outcomes. METHOD A mixed-methods approach was adopted alongside the pragmatic randomised trial. Data were obtained from intervention records and interviews with five dementia support practitioners across seven National Health Service Trusts in England and Wales. A reporting framework was constructed from available literature and data assessed by descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. RESULTS Participation and engagement was high with 126 out of 128 participants completing the intervention with packages tailored to individual participants. Misplacing items and poor orientation to date and time were common areas of need. Memory aids frequently supplied included orientation clocks (91%), whiteboards (60%), calendars (43%) and notebooks (32%), plus bespoke items. Intervention duration and timing were broadly consistent with expectations. Variation reflected participants' needs, circumstances and preferences. Qualitative findings suggested a potentially positive impact on the well-being of people with dementia and their carers. Issues associated with successful roll-out of the intervention are explored in the discussion. CONCLUSION Successful implementation increased confidence in future findings of the randomised trial. Depending on these, DESCANT may prove a scalable intervention with potential to improve the function and quality of life of people with dementia and their carers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Chester
- Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Rebecca Beresford
- Social Care and Society, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Paul Clarkson
- Social Care and Society, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Charlotte Entwistle
- Department of Psychology, Fylde College, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Vincent Gillan
- Social Care and Society, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jane Hughes
- Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Martin Orrell
- Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Rosa Pitts
- Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Ian Russell
- Swansea Trials Unit, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales
| | - Eileen Symonds
- Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - David Challis
- Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Wajman JR, Cecchini MA. A simple counting of verbal fluency errors discriminates between normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn 2022; 30:370-387. [PMID: 35174776 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2022.2035668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
For this observational cross-sectional study, different modalities of verbal fluency tasks (VFTs) were compared between 143 participants: 35 cognitively healthy controls (CHCs), 71 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 37 mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Binomial logistic regression models were defined to identify VFT variables associated with MCI and AD, with respect to CHC. The results showed that the best errors/repetitions variable associated with MCI and AD was the phonemic task, and with every error the odds of being in the MCI group increased 9.9 times and 12.2 times in AD group, accompanied by high accuracy values (MCI: AUC = 0.824, sensitivity = 0.676, specificity = 0.943; AD: AUC = 0.883, sensitivity = 0.784, specificity = 0.943). The results suggest that, in addition to solely register raw scores, a simple counting of errors and repetitions during VFT can offer valuable clues in detecting MCI and AD, especially in the phonemic task.
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Affiliation(s)
- José R Wajman
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Hospital São Paulo, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mário A Cecchini
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology Department, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Loi SM, Tropea J, Gaffy E, Panayiotou A, Capon H, Chiang J, Bryant C, Doyle C, Kelly M, Livingston G, Dow B. START-online: acceptability and feasibility of an online intervention for carers of people living with dementia. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2022; 8:41. [PMID: 35172894 PMCID: PMC8848667 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-00999-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background With increasing numbers of people living with dementia relying on family to care for them at home, there is an urgent need for practical and evidence-based programs to support carers in maintaining their mental health and well-being. The objective of this study was to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a modified STrAtegies for RelaTives (START) program delivered online (START-online). Method A mixed-methods non-blinded evaluation of START-online (using Zoom as videoconferencing platform) for acceptability and feasibility (completion rates and qualitative feedback through surveys and focus groups) and quantitative evaluation. This occurred at the National Ageing Research Institute, in metropolitan Victoria, Australia. Results Twenty-nine eligible carers were referred, 20 (70%) consented to the study. Of these, 16 (80%) completed all 8 sessions, 2 completed only 3 sessions, and 2 withdrew. Carers’ qualitative feedback indicated that the therapist interaction was valued, content and online delivery of the program was acceptable. Feedback was mixed on the appropriate stage of caring. Conclusion START-online was feasible and acceptable for carers, including those living outside of metropolitan areas who might otherwise be unable to access face-to-face programs. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic necessitating social distancing to avoid infection, interventions such as this one have increasing relevance in the provision of flexible services. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-022-00999-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Loi
- Neuropsychiatry, North Western Mental Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia. .,Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, 3050, Australia.
| | - Joanne Tropea
- Department of Medicine and Aged Care, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia
| | - Ellen Gaffy
- National Ageing Research Institute, Poplar Road, Parkville, 3050, Australia
| | - Anita Panayiotou
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, 3050, Australia.,Department of Medicine and Aged Care, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia.,Safer Care Victoria, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
| | - Hannah Capon
- National Ageing Research Institute, Poplar Road, Parkville, 3050, Australia
| | - Jodi Chiang
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, 3010, Australia
| | - Christina Bryant
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, 3010, Australia
| | - Colleen Doyle
- National Ageing Research Institute, Poplar Road, Parkville, 3050, Australia
| | - Michelle Kelly
- School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, 2308, Australia
| | - Gill Livingston
- UCL Division of Psychiatry 6th Floor, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF, UK
| | - Briony Dow
- National Ageing Research Institute, Poplar Road, Parkville, 3050, Australia.,School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
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11
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Sun Y, Ji M, Leng M, Li X, Zhang X, Wang Z. Comparative efficacy of 11 non-pharmacological interventions on depression, anxiety, quality of life, and caregiver burden for informal caregivers of people with dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud 2022; 129:104204. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Huo Z, Chan JYC, Lin J, Bat BKK, Chan TK, Tsoi KKF, Yip BHK. Supporting Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia in Cost-Effective Ways: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Value Health 2021; 24:1853-1862. [PMID: 34838284 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Caring for persons with dementia is a heavy burden for informal caregivers. This study aimed to appraise the economic evidence of interventions supporting informal caregivers of people with dementia. METHODS Literature was searched, and trial-based studies evaluating the costs and effects of interventions supporting informal caregivers of people with dementia were included. Cost data were analyzed from both healthcare and societal perspectives. Random-effects models were used to synthesize cost and effect data, based on mean differences (MDs) or standardized MDs. RESULTS Of 33 eligible studies identified from 48 588 records, 14 (42.4%) showed net savings in total cost regardless of analytical perspectives. Among 22 studies included in meta-analyses, caregiver-focused psychosocial interventions showed improvements in caregivers' psychological health (n = 4; standardized MD 0.240; 95% confidence interval 0.094-0.387); nevertheless, the increases in societal cost were significant (n = 5; MD 3144; 95% confidence interval 922-5366). Psychological intervention and behavioral management engaging patient-caregiver dyads showed positive effects on caregivers' subjective burden, also with increases in total cost. Subgroup analyses indicated that the inclusion of different intervention components, the caregiver characteristics, and the follow-up periods could affect the costs and effects of interventions supporting informal caregivers. CONCLUSIONS Psychosocial interventions directed at informal caregivers and dyad-based psychological and behavioral interventions are effective but also expensive. The use of these interventions depends on the society's willingness to pay. More comprehensive economic evidence of interventions supporting informal caregivers is required, and the design of intervention should focus more on different intervention components, characteristics of patients and caregivers, and healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohua Huo
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Y C Chan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Jiaer Lin
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Baker K K Bat
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Tak Kit Chan
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Kelvin K F Tsoi
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; Stanley Ho Big Data Decision Analytics Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
| | - Benjamin H K Yip
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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13
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Wang Y, Xiao LD, Yu Y, Huang R, You H, Liu M. An individualized telephone-based care support program for rural family caregivers of people with dementia: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:629. [PMID: 34736394 PMCID: PMC8567341 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02575-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are about 9.5 million people with dementia in China. Up to 99% of them are cared for by their family caregivers. Family caregivers are confronted with considerable difficulties and challenges while providing care. They often experience high levels of emotional, physical, financial, and social burdens. Caregivers in rural areas experience an even higher level of burden compared to their counterparts in urban areas due to fewer health resources for dementia care. However, so far, no intervention study has been conducted to support family caregivers in rural areas of China. The aim of this proposed study is to adapt and evaluate an evidence-based and culturally-tailored individualized telephone-based care support (ITBCS) program for family caregivers of people with dementia in rural China. Methods A cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the ITBCS compared with usual care for Chinese rural family caregivers of people with dementia. A total sample of 168 rural family caregivers will be recruited. The intervention components consist of a 3-month intensive telephone-based care support intervention followed by telephone-based follow-up consultations for 6 months. The control group will receive usual care services available for them. Outcome measures include carers’ subjective burden, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, social support, caregiving self-efficacy, and care recipients’ difficult behaviours and competence in activities of daily living at 3, 9 and 15 months after baseline. The potential cost-effectiveness of the ITBCS compared with usual care will be assessed as well. Discussion If effective, the ITBCS program can be adapted and used in rural areas of China as a blueprint to improve the quality of home-based care for people with dementia. Findings from the present study are significant for developing evidence-based dementia care policy in rural China. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000038821, Registered 4 April 2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=62268.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- Xiang Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
| | - Lily Dongxia Xiao
- College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Yu Yu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rong Huang
- Xiang Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Hui You
- Xiang Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Minhui Liu
- Xiang Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
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14
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Lobban F, Akers N, Appelbe D, Iraci Capuccinello R, Chapman L, Collinge L, Dodd S, Flowers S, Hollingsworth B, Honary M, Johnson S, Jones SH, Mateus C, Mezes B, Murray E, Panagaki K, Rainford N, Robinson H, Rosala-Hallas A, Sellwood W, Walker A, Williamson PR. A web-based, peer-supported self-management intervention to reduce distress in relatives of people with psychosis or bipolar disorder: the REACT RCT. Health Technol Assess 2021; 24:1-142. [PMID: 32608353 DOI: 10.3310/hta24320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relatives caring for people with severe mental health problems find information and emotional support hard to access. Online support for self-management offers a potential solution. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an online supported self-management tool for relatives: the Relatives' Education And Coping Toolkit (REACT). DESIGN AND SETTING This was a primarily online (UK), single-blind, randomised controlled trial, comparing REACT plus a resource directory and treatment as usual with the resource directory and treatment as usual only, by measuring user distress and other well-being measures at baseline and at 12 and 24 weeks. PARTICIPANTS A total of 800 relatives of people with severe mental health problems across the UK took part; relatives who were aged ≥ 16 years, were experiencing high levels of distress, had access to the internet and were actively seeking help were recruited. INTERVENTION REACT comprised 12 psychoeducation modules, peer support through a group forum, confidential messaging and a comprehensive resource directory of national support. Trained relatives moderated the forum and responded to messages. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The main outcome was the level of participants' distress, as measured by the General Health Questionnaire-28 items. RESULTS Various online and offline strategies, including social media, directed potential participants to the website. Participants were randomised to one of two arms: REACT plus the resource directory (n = 399) or the resource directory only (n = 401). Retention at 24 weeks was 75% (REACT arm, n = 292; resource directory-only arm, n = 307). The mean scores for the General Health Questionnaire-28 items reduced substantially across both arms over 24 weeks, from 40.2 (standard deviation 14.3) to 30.5 (standard deviation 15.6), with no significant difference between arms (mean difference -1.39, 95% confidence interval -3.60 to 0.83; p = 0.22). At 12 weeks, the General Health Questionnaire-28 items scores were lower in the REACT arm than in the resource directory-only arm (-2.08, 95% confidence interval -4.14 to -0.03; p = 0.027), but this finding is likely to be of limited clinical significance. Accounting for missing data, which were associated with higher distress in the REACT arm (0.33, 95% confidence interval -0.27 to 0.93; p = 0.279), in a longitudinal model, there was no significant difference between arms over 24 weeks (-0.56, 95% confidence interval -2.34 to 1.22; p = 0.51). REACT cost £142.95 per participant to design and deliver (£62.27 for delivery only), compared with £0.84 for the resource directory only. A health economic analysis of NHS, health and Personal Social Services outcomes found that REACT has higher costs (£286.77), slightly better General Health Questionnaire-28 items scores (incremental General Health Questionnaire-28 items score adjusted for baseline, age and gender: -1.152, 95% confidence interval -3.370 to 1.065) and slightly lower quality-adjusted life-year gains than the resource directory only; none of these differences was statistically significant. The median time spent online was 50.8 minutes (interquartile range 12.4-172.1 minutes) for REACT, with no significant association with outcome. Participants reported finding REACT a safe, confidential environment (96%) and reported feeling supported by the forum (89%) and the REACT supporters (86%). No serious adverse events were reported. LIMITATIONS The sample comprised predominantly white British females, 25% of participants were lost to follow-up and dropout in the REACT arm was not random. CONCLUSIONS An online self-management support toolkit with a moderated group forum is acceptable to relatives and, compared with face-to-face programmes, offers inexpensive, safe delivery of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-recommended support to engage relatives as peers in care delivery. However, currently, REACT plus the resource directory is no more effective at reducing relatives' distress than the resource directory only. FUTURE WORK Further research in improving the effectiveness of online carer support interventions is required. TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN72019945. FUNDING This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 24, No. 32. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Lobban
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Nadia Akers
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Duncan Appelbe
- Clinical Trials Research Centre, Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool (a member of Liverpool Health Partners), Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Lesley Chapman
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Lizzi Collinge
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Susanna Dodd
- Clinical Trials Research Centre, Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool (a member of Liverpool Health Partners), Liverpool, UK
| | - Sue Flowers
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Bruce Hollingsworth
- Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Mahsa Honary
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Sonia Johnson
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Steven H Jones
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Ceu Mateus
- Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Barbara Mezes
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Elizabeth Murray
- Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Katerina Panagaki
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Naomi Rainford
- Clinical Trials Research Centre, Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool (a member of Liverpool Health Partners), Liverpool, UK
| | - Heather Robinson
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Anna Rosala-Hallas
- Clinical Trials Research Centre, Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool (a member of Liverpool Health Partners), Liverpool, UK
| | - William Sellwood
- Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Andrew Walker
- Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Paula R Williamson
- Clinical Trials Research Centre, Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool (a member of Liverpool Health Partners), Liverpool, UK
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15
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Amador S, Rapaport P, Lang I, Sommerlad A, Mukadam N, Stringer A, Hart N, Nurock S, Livingston G. Implementation of START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) for dementia carers in the third sector: Widening access to evidence-based interventions. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250410. [PMID: 34077465 PMCID: PMC8171938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Family members remain the main care providers for the increasing numbers of people with dementia, and often become depressed or anxious. In an implementation research project, we aimed to widen access to Strategies for RelaTives (START), a clinically and cost-effective intervention for the mental health of family carers, by laying the foundations for its implementation in the third sector. We used the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework to guide implementation of START, a manual-based, individually-delivered, multicomponent eight-session coping strategy intervention. We interviewed a maximum variation sample of twenty-seven stakeholders from the English Alzheimer’s Society (AS), about possible difficulties in management, training, and delivery of START. We trained and supervised three AS dementia support workers in different locations, to each deliver START to three family carers. Two researchers independently coded pre-intervention interviews for themes. We assessed intervention feasibility through monitoring delivery fidelity, rating audio-recordings from 1–5 (5 being high) and interviewing facilitators, family carers and AS managers about their experiences. We assessed effectiveness on family carers’ mental health using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before and after receiving START (scores 0–42). We changed START’s format by reflecting carer diversity more and increasing carer stories prominence, but core content or delivery processes were unchanged. All carers received START and attended every session. The mean fidelity score was 4.2. Mean HADS-total score reduced from baseline 18.4 (standard deviation 7.4) to follow-up 15.8 (9.7). Six (67%) carers scored as clinically depressed on baseline HADS and 2 (22%) at follow-up. Facilitators and carers rated START positively. Appropriately experienced third sector workers can be trained and supervised to deliver START and it remains effective. This has the potential for widened access at scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Amador
- University College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Iain Lang
- University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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16
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Chester H, Beresford R, Clarkson P, Entwistle C, Gillan V, Hughes J, Orrell M, Pitts R, Russell I, Symonds E, Challis D. The Dementia Early Stage Cognitive Aids New Trial (DESCANT) intervention: A goal attainment scaling approach to promote self-management. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2021; 36:784-793. [PMID: 33271639 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study investigated goals identified by people with dementia and their carers to promote the self-management of symptoms and abilities; measured achievement using goal attainment scaling (GAS); and explored the reflections of Dementia Support Practitioners (DSPs) facilitating it. METHODS AND DESIGN Within this pragmatic randomised trial, DSPs gave memory aids, training and support to people with mild to moderate dementia and their carers at home. Data were collected across seven NHS Trusts in England and Wales (2016-2018) and abstracted from intervention records and semi-structured interviews with DSPs delivering the intervention, supplemented by a subset of the trial dataset. Measures were created to permit quantification and descriptive analysis and interview data thematically analysed. A GAS measure for this intervention in this client group was derived. RESULTS Engagement was high across the 117 participants and 293 goals were identified. These reflected individual circumstances and needs and enabled classification and assessment of their attainment. Seventeen goal types were identified across six domains: self-care, household tasks, daily occupation, orientation, communication, and well-being and safety. On average participants achieved nominally significant improvement regarding the specified goals of 1.4 with standard deviation of 0.6. Five interviews suggested that DSPs' experiences of goal setting were also positive. CONCLUSIONS GAS is useful for assessing psychosocial interventions for people with early-stage dementia. It has a utility in identifying goals, promoting self-management and providing a personalised outcome measure. There is a strong case for exploring whether these clear benefits translate to other interventions in other populations in other places.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Chester
- School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Rebecca Beresford
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Paul Clarkson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Charlotte Entwistle
- Department of Psychology, Fylde College, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Vincent Gillan
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Formerly of School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jane Hughes
- School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Martin Orrell
- School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Rosa Pitts
- Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Ian Russell
- Swansea Trials Unit, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK
| | - Eileen Symonds
- School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - David Challis
- School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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17
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Wiegelmann H, Speller S, Verhaert LM, Schirra-Weirich L, Wolf-Ostermann K. Psychosocial interventions to support the mental health of informal caregivers of persons living with dementia - a systematic literature review. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:94. [PMID: 33526012 PMCID: PMC7849618 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02020-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Informal caregivers of persons living with dementia have an increased risk of adverse mental health effects. It is therefore important to systematically summarize published literature in order to find out which mental health interventions generate effective support for informal caregivers of persons living with dementia. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of intervention content, effectiveness and subgroup differentiation of mental health interventions for informal caregivers of persons with dementia living at home. Method We searched four electronic databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Scopus and CINAHL) and included only methodically high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published in English or German language between 2009 and 2018. The intervention programmes focused on mental health of family caregivers. A narrative synthesis of the included studies is given. Results Forty-eight publications relating to 46 intervention programmes met the inclusion criteria. Burden, depression and quality of life (QoL) are the predominant parameters that were investigated. Twenty-five of forty-six interventions (54.3%) show positive effects on at least one of the outcomes examined. Most often, positive effects are reported for the outcome subjective burden (46.2%). Only six studies explicitly target on a certain subgroup of informal dementia caregivers (13%), whereas all other interventions (87%) target the group as a whole without differentiation. Conclusion The most beneficial results were found for cognitive behavioural approaches, especially concerning the reduction of depressive symptoms. Besides this, leisure and physical activity interventions show some good results in reducing subjective caregiver burden. In order to improve effectiveness, research and practice may focus on developing more targeted interventions for special dementia informal caregiver subgroups. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02020-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Wiegelmann
- Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 4, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Sarah Speller
- Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 4, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Verhaert
- Department of Social Services, Centre for Participation Research, Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia, Robert-Schuman-Straße 25, 52066, Aachen, Germany
| | - Liane Schirra-Weirich
- Department of Social Services, Centre for Participation Research, Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia, Robert-Schuman-Straße 25, 52066, Aachen, Germany
| | - Karin Wolf-Ostermann
- Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 4, 28359, Bremen, Germany
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18
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Fossey J, Charlesworth G, Fowler JA, Frangou E, Pimm TJ, Dent J, Ryder J, Robinson A, Kahn R, Aarsland D, Pickett J, Ballard C. Online Education and Cognitive Behavior Therapy Improve Dementia Caregivers' Mental Health: A Randomized Trial. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2020; 22:1403-1409.e1. [PMID: 33288467 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with and without telephone support respectively to online psychoeducation in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in caregivers of people with dementia with mild anxiety or depression. DESIGN Three-arm parallel-group RCT comparing online CBT with and without telephone support respectively to online psychoeducation. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Online study with caregivers of people with dementia. MEASURES The primary outcome measure was mental health measured by General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) at 26 weeks. Secondary outcomes included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); the Relative Stress Scale (RSS) and the Short Sense of Competency Questionnaire. The primary analysis focused on people completing GHQ-12 at both baseline and 26 weeks, evaluated using analysis of covariance. RESULTS 638 people were randomized to the 3 treatment arms, of whom 208 were included in the analysis population. There were significant improvements in GHQ-12 in all treatment arms compared to baseline (P < .001 for all interventions), but neither CBT with nor without telephone support conferred any significant advantage compared to psychoeducation. For the secondary outcomes, there were no significant differences between CBT with telephone support and psychoeducation, but CBT without telephone support was less effective than psychoeducation with respect to HADS depression subscale [mean difference 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61, 3.11; P = .004] and caregiver stress (RSS mean difference 3.11, 95% CI 0.13, 6.09; P = .04). Good safety was achieved in all 3 treatment arms, with no deaths or serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Online CBT with telephone support and psychoeducation both achieved significant benefits over 26 weeks compared with baseline in mental health and mood, but there were no advantages for CBT compared with the psychoeducation intervention. CBT without telephone support was less effective with respect to mood outcomes than psychoeducation and should not be recommended based on current evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Fossey
- Fulbrook Centre, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom; University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Georgina Charlesworth
- Research and Development, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Ilford, United Kingdom; Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jo-Ann Fowler
- Fulbrook Centre, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Frangou
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Oxford, United Kingdom; MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Theo John Pimm
- Whiteleaf Centre, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Aylesbury, United Kingdom
| | - June Dent
- Warneford Hospital, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxford VR, Oxford Centre for Innovation, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Ryder
- Warneford Hospital, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Robinson
- TalkingSpace Plus, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Kahn
- Alzheimer's Society Research Network Volunteer, Warrington, United Kingdom
| | - Dag Aarsland
- Wolfson Centre for Age Related Diseases, Kings College London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Clive Ballard
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom.
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19
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Miles L, McCausland BMS, Patel HP, Amin J, Osman-Hicks VC. A systematic review of the provision and efficacy of patient and carer information and support (PCIS) interventions for patients with dementia and their informal carers. Aging Clin Exp Res 2020; 32:2439-2448. [PMID: 31808067 PMCID: PMC7680317 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-019-01428-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The NHS dementia strategy identifies patient and carer information and support (PCIS) as a core component of gold-standard dementia care. This is the first systematic review of PCIS, performed to analyse the literature and evidence for these interventions. AIMS To systematically review literature evaluating the effectiveness of the provision of PCIS for people with dementia and their informal carers, in inpatient and outpatient settings. METHODS Searches of four online biomedical databases, accessed in September 2018. Studies were selected if they were: relating to people with dementia or their informal carers, based in inpatient or outpatient settings, published in English-language peer-reviewed journals no earlier than the year 2000 and assessed dementia-related information or social support interventions, by measuring qualitative or quantitative carer or patient-reported outcomes. Standardised data extraction and quality appraisal forms were used. RESULTS 7 of 43 full-text papers analysed were eligible for analysis. 3 papers were different arms of one original study. Trends were present in the quantitative results towards reduced patient and carer depression and anxiety and the themes in the qualitative analysis were in favour of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS The studies analysed were too heterogeneous in design, population and outcomes measured to make a conclusive opinion about the efficacy of these interventions. It is surprising that for such a common condition, a gold-standard evidence-based intervention and standardised delivery for provision of PCIS for people living with dementia in the UK does not exist. Further research is therefore vital.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Miles
- Faculty of Medicine (Clinical and Experimental Sciences), University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - B M S McCausland
- Faculty of Medicine (Clinical and Experimental Sciences), University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
| | - H P Patel
- Academic Geriatric Medicine, University of Southampton, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
- Medicine for Older People, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - J Amin
- Faculty of Medicine (Clinical and Experimental Sciences), University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Memory Assessment and Research Centre, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - V C Osman-Hicks
- Faculty of Medicine (Clinical and Experimental Sciences), University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
- Medicine for Older People, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
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20
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Bartels SL, van Knippenberg RJM, Köhler S, Ponds RW, Myin-Germeys I, Verhey FRJ, de Vugt ME. The necessity for sustainable intervention effects: lessons-learned from an experience sampling intervention for spousal carers of people with dementia. Aging Ment Health 2020; 24:2082-2093. [PMID: 31368355 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1647130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Caring for a person with dementia can be challenging over the years. To support family carers throughout their entire caregiving career, interventions with a sustained effectivity are needed. A novel 6-week mobile health (mHealth) intervention using the experience sampling method (ESM) showed positive effects on carers' well-being over a period of 2 months after the intervention. In this study, the effects after 6 months of the selfsame intervention were examined to evaluate the sustainability of positive intervention effects. METHOD The 6-week mHealth intervention consisted of an experimental group (ESM self-monitoring and personalized feedback), a pseudo-experimental group (ESM self-monitoring without feedback), and a control group (providing regular care without ESM self-monitoring or feedback). Carers' sense of competence, mastery, and psychological complaints (depression, anxiety and perceived stress) were evaluated pre- and post-intervention as well as at two follow-up time points. The present study focuses on the 6-month follow-up data (n = 50). RESULTS Positive intervention effects on sense of competence, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms were not sustained over 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION The benefits of this mHealth intervention for carers of people living with dementia were not sustained over a long time. Similarly, other psychosocial interventions for carers of people with dementia rarely reported long-lasting effects. In order to sustainably contribute to carers' well-being, researchers and clinicians should continuously ensure flexible adjustment of the intervention and consider additional features such as ad-hoc counseling options and booster sessions. In this regard, mHealth interventions can offer ideally suited and unique opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Laureen Bartels
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rosalia J M van Knippenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Köhler
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rudolf W Ponds
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Inez Myin-Germeys
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Contextual Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frans R J Verhey
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein E de Vugt
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Testad I, Clare L, Anstey K, Selbæk G, Bjørkløf GH, Henderson C, Dalen I, Gjestsen MT, Rhodes S, Røsvik J, Bollen J, Amos J, Kajander MM, Quinn L, Knapp M. Self-management and HeAlth Promotion in Early-stage dementia with e-learning for carers (SHAPE): study protocol for a multi-centre randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1508. [PMID: 33036591 PMCID: PMC7545375 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09590-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With an increasing number of people with dementia worldwide and limited advancement in medical treatments, the call for new and cost-effective approaches is crucial. The utility of self-management has been proven in certain chronic conditions. However, very little work has been undertaken regarding self-management in people with dementia. METHODS The SHAPE trial will include 372 people with mild to moderate dementia to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an educational programme combining approaches of self-management, health promotion, and e-learning for care partners. The study is a multi-site, single-randomised, controlled, single-blinded trial with parallel arms. The intervention arm is compared with treatment as usual. The intervention comprises a 10-week course delivered as group sessions for the participants with dementia. The sessions are designed to develop self-management skills and to provide information on the nature of the condition and the development of healthy behaviours in a supportive learning environment. An e-learning course will be provided for care partners which covers similar and complementary material to that discussed in the group sessions for the participant with dementia. DISCUSSION This trial will explore the effect of the SHAPE group intervention on people with mild to moderate dementia in terms of self-efficacy and improvement in key health and mental health outcomes and cost-effectiveness, along with carer stress and knowledge of dementia. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04286139, registered prospectively February 26, 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04286139.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingelin Testad
- Centre for Age-related Medicine - SESAM, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
- University of Exeter, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Linda Clare
- REACH: The Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, UK
| | - Kaarin Anstey
- UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia
| | - Geir Selbæk
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Guro Hanevold Bjørkløf
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
| | - Catherine Henderson
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Ingvild Dalen
- Department of Research, Section of Biostatistics, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | | | - Shelley Rhodes
- University of Exeter, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Janne Røsvik
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
| | - Jessica Bollen
- University of Exeter, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jessica Amos
- UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia
| | - Martine Marie Kajander
- Centre for Age-related Medicine - SESAM, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lynne Quinn
- University of Exeter, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Martin Knapp
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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Brewster GS, Epps F, Dye CE, Hepburn K, Higgins MK, Parker ML. The Effect of the " Great Village" on Psychological Outcomes, Burden, and Mastery in African American Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia. J Appl Gerontol 2020; 39:1059-1068. [PMID: 31535922 PMCID: PMC7080571 DOI: 10.1177/0733464819874574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The "Great Village," a cultural adaptation of a psychoeducation intervention the "Savvy Caregiver" for African American caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLwD), aims to develop caregivers' skills and improve the quality of the lives of both the PLwD and their caregivers. The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Great Village on depressive symptoms, anxiety, burden, and mastery in African American caregivers (N = 142). A three-arm randomized control trial (Great Village, Great Village + exercise, and attention control) was conducted over a period of 6 months. Caregivers who received either Great Village or Great Village + exercise reported significant reduction in depressive symptoms and improvement in mastery. Caregivers who received only Great Village reported a reduction in anxiety. Receiving no intervention worsened caregiver burden. African American caregivers should receive culturally tailored interventions to support their health and well-being and improve their competence in caregiving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenna S. Brewster
- Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Fayron Epps
- Georgia State University, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Clinton E. Dye
- Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kenneth Hepburn
- Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Melinda K. Higgins
- Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Kashimura M, Rapaport P, Nomura T, Ishiwata A, Tateno A, Nogami A, Yamashita M, Kawanishi T, Kawashima Y, Kitamura S, Livingston G. Acceptability and feasibility of a Japanese version of STrAtegies for RelaTives (START-J): A manualized coping strategy program for family caregivers of relatives living with dementia. Dementia (London) 2020; 20:985-1004. [PMID: 32326749 DOI: 10.1177/1471301220919938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The rising older population in Japan is associated with a rise in cases of dementia. Support for the increased number of family caregivers of people living with dementia is crucial, as caring may negatively affect a family caregiver's health. This study seeks to evaluate the feasibility and applicability of a recently developed Japanese version of START (STrAtegies for RelaTives). START is a psychosocial coping intervention program developed in the United Kingdom that has been shown to improve caregivers' mood and quality of life in a randomized controlled trial. We made changes to START (e.g., idioms, linguistic nuance, and providing care insurance information suited for Japan) to make it culturally appropriate. Fourteen Japanese female family caregivers of relatives with mild dementia (n = 10) or mild cognitive impairment (n = 4) were referred to the study, but six were excluded owing to illness and busyness. This single-arm study had a before-after trial evaluating psychological outcomes including depression, anxiety, quality of life, and subjective care burden. The acceptance retention and satisfaction rate suggest the feasibility and acceptability of the START program; 8/14 (>55%) eligible, prospective participants consented and were included in this study, all (8/8) of whom completed all START sessions. The mean program satisfaction score was 30.25 (standard deviation = 2.25) out of a potential 32. The results suggest that it is feasible and acceptable to deliver START in Japanese and based on the results of analysis using a linear mixed model, there is initial indication that the intervention improved family caregivers' quality of life, depressive symptoms, and care burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masami Kashimura
- Department of Medical Psychology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Penny Rapaport
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Toshiaki Nomura
- Department of Medical Psychology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan; Dementia Centre, Nippon Medical School Musashi Kosugi Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Akiko Ishiwata
- Department of Neurology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Amane Tateno
- Department of Psychiatry, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akane Nogami
- Department of Neurology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mari Yamashita
- Research Team for Social Participation and Community Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoya Kawanishi
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Education, Naruto University of Education, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Kawashima
- Department of Psycho-Social Studies, School of Arts and Letters, Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin Kitamura
- Dementia Centre, Nippon Medical SchoolMusashi Kosugi Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Gill Livingston
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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24
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Pandey N, Tripathi R, Tripathi S, Singh B, Tiwari S. Problems and strain of caregivers of urban older adults: An exploration. J Geriatr Ment Health 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/jgmh.jgmh_38_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Livingston G, Manela M, O'Keeffe A, Rapaport P, Cooper C, Knapp M, King D, Romeo R, Walker Z, Hoe J, Mummery C, Barber J. Clinical effectiveness of the START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) psychological intervention for family carers and the effects on the cost of care for people with dementia: 6-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 2020; 216:35-42. [PMID: 31298169 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2019.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) intervention reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms of family carers of relatives with dementia at home over 2 years and was cost-effective. AIMS To assess the clinical effectiveness over 6 years and the impact on costs and care home admission. METHOD We conducted a randomised, parallel group, superiority trial recruiting from 4 November 2009 to 8 June 2011 with 6-year follow-up (trial registration: ISCTRN 70017938). A total of 260 self-identified family carers of people with dementia were randomised 2:1 to START, an eight-session manual-based coping intervention delivered by supervised psychology graduates, or to treatment as usual (TAU). The primary outcome was affective symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, total score (HADS-T)). Secondary outcomes included patient and carer service costs and care home admission. RESULTS In total, 222 (85.4%) of 173 carers randomised to START and 87 to TAU were included in the 6-year clinical efficacy analysis. Over 72 months, compared with TAU, the intervention group had improved scores on HADS-T (adjusted mean difference -2.00 points, 95% CI -3.38 to -0.63). Patient-related costs (START versus TAU, respectively: median £5759 v. £16 964 in the final year; P = 0.07) and carer-related costs (median £377 v. £274 in the final year) were not significantly different between groups nor were group differences in time until care home (intensity ratio START:TAU was 0.88, 95% CI 0.58-1.35). CONCLUSIONS START is clinically effective and this effect lasts for 6 years without increasing costs. This is the first intervention with such a long-term clinical and possible economic benefit and has potential to make a difference to individual carers. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST G.L., Z.W. and C.C. are supported by the UCLH National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre. G.L. and P.R. were in part supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) North Thames at Bart's Health NHS Trust. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. Z.W. reports during the conduct of the study; personal fees from GE Healthcare, grants from GE Healthcare, grants from Lundbeck, other from GE Healthcare, outside the submitted work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gill Livingston
- Professor of Older People's Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry, UCL; and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, UK
| | | | - Aidan O'Keeffe
- Lecturer in Statistics, UCL Statistical Science and PRIMENT Clinical Trials Unit, UCL, UK
| | - Penny Rapaport
- Principal Clinical Psychologist, Division of Psychiatry, UCL, UK
| | - Claudia Cooper
- Professor, Division of Psychiatry, UCL; and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, UK
| | - Martin Knapp
- Professor of Social Policy, Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics & Political Science, UK
| | - Derek King
- Assistant Professorial Research Fellow, Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics & Political Science, UK
| | - Renee Romeo
- Senior Lecturer in Health Economics, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Zuzana Walker
- Professor, Division of Psychiatry, UCL; and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Juanita Hoe
- Senior Clinical Research Associate, Division of Psychiatry, UCL, UK
| | - Cath Mummery
- Consultant Neurologist, Honorary Senior Lecturer, Institute of Neurology, UCL, UK
| | - Julie Barber
- Associate Professor in Medical Statistics, UCL Statistical Science and PRIMENT Clinical Trials Unit, UCL, UK
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Ruisoto P, Contador I, Fernández-Calvo B, Serra L, Jenaro C, Flores N, Ramos F, Rivera-Navarro J. Mediating effect of social support on the relationship between resilience and burden in caregivers of people with dementia. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2020; 86:103952. [DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2019.103952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Hwang AB, Boes S, Nyffeler T, Schuepfer G. Validity of screening instruments for the detection of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in hospital inpatients: A systematic review of diagnostic accuracy studies. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219569. [PMID: 31344048 PMCID: PMC6657852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As the population ages, Alzheimer's disease and other subtypes of dementia are becoming increasingly prevalent. However, in recent years, diagnosis has often been delayed or not made at all. Thus, improving the rate of diagnosis has become an integral part of national dementia strategies. Although screening for dementia remains controversial, the case is strong for screening for dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment in hospital inpatients. For this reason, the objective of this systematic review was to provide clinicians, who wish to implement screening, an up-to-date choice of cognitive tests with the most extensive evidence base for the use in elective hospital inpatients. METHODS For this systematic review, PubMed, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library were searched by using a multi-concept search strategy. The databases were accessed on April 10, 2019. All cross-sectional studies that utilized brief, multi-domain cognitive tests as index test and a reference standard diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment as comparator were included. Only studies conducted in the hospital setting, sampling from unselected, elective inpatients older than 64 were considered. RESULTS Six studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 2112 participants. Diagnostic accuracy data for the Six-Item Cognitive Impairment Test, Cognitive Performance Scale, Clock-Drawing Test, Mini-Mental Status Examination, and Time & Change test were extracted and descriptively analyzed. Clinical and methodological heterogeneity between the studies precluded performing a meta-analysis. DISCUSSION This review found only a small number of instruments and was not able to recommend a single best instrument for use in a hospital setting. Although it was not possible to estimate the pooled operating characteristics, the included description of instrument characteristics, the descriptive analysis of performance measures, and the critical evaluation of the reporting studies may contribute to clinician's choice of the screening instrument that fits best their purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aljoscha Benjamin Hwang
- Clinic for Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Health Policy, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Boes
- Department of Health Sciences and Health Policy, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Nyffeler
- Clinic for Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Guido Schuepfer
- Staff Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Meichsner F, Töpfer NF, Reder M, Soellner R, Wilz G. Telephone-Based Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Improves Dementia Caregivers' Quality of Life. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2019; 34:236-246. [PMID: 30636429 PMCID: PMC10852525 DOI: 10.1177/1533317518822100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2024]
Abstract
The present study examined the effects of a telephone-based cognitive behavioral intervention on dementia caregivers' quality of life (QoL). A total of 273 caregivers were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The intervention comprised 12 telephone sessions of individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) over 6 months. At baseline, postintervention, and 6-month follow-up, QoL was assessed with the World Health Organization QoL-BREF, which measures perceived QoL for the domains physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment as well as overall QoL and satisfaction with general health. Intention-to-treat analyses using latent change models were performed. At postintervention, intervention group participants reported better overall QoL and satisfaction with general health as well as better physical and psychological health compared to control group participants. Together with existing evidence, the results suggest that the telephone CBT intervention does not only reduce impairments but also fosters improvements in health-related QoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Meichsner
- Department of Counseling and Clinical Intervention, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Franziska Meichsner and Nils F. Töpfer contributed equally to this work
| | - Nils F. Töpfer
- Department of Counseling and Clinical Intervention, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Franziska Meichsner and Nils F. Töpfer contributed equally to this work
| | - Maren Reder
- Institute of Psychology, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany
| | - Renate Soellner
- Institute of Psychology, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany
| | - Gabriele Wilz
- Department of Counseling and Clinical Intervention, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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Youens D, Halkett G, Wright C, O'Connor M, Schofield P, Jefford M, Aranda S, Kane R, Moorin R. Assessing the cost-effectiveness of RT Prepare: A radiation therapist-delivered intervention for reducing psychological distress prior to radiotherapy. Psychooncology 2019; 28:1110-1118. [PMID: 30884030 DOI: 10.1002/pon.5065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the cost-effectiveness of RT Prepare in reducing breast cancer patients' psychological distress before treatment, compared with usual care. METHODS RT Prepare, an intervention involving patient education and support consultations with a radiation therapist (RT), was implemented at three Australian sites (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registration: ACTRN12611001000998). The primary outcome was change in psychological distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); secondary outcomes were changes in quality of life (QoL) and additional health service use. Costs (2015 $AU) included consultation time and training delivery. Between-group comparisons of HADS and QoL used generalised linear mixed models, and comparisons of health service use used negative binomial regression. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) indicated mean costs per 1-point decrease in HADS score. Sensitivity analyses explored variation in facility size and uncertainty in intervention effectiveness. RESULTS Among 218 controls and 189 intervention participants, the intervention significantly lowered HADS scores at treatment commencement (adjusted mean difference 1.06 points). There was no significant effect on QoL or additional service use. Mean intervention costs were AU$171 per participant (US$130, €119) mostly related to RT training (approximately AU$142 (US$108, €99). An ICER of $158 (US$120, €110) was estimated. Cost-effectiveness improved in a sensitivity analysis representing a large facility with higher patient numbers. CONCLUSION This study provides new data on the cost-effectiveness of an RT-delivered intervention to reduce psychological distress prior to treatment, which will be useful to inform delivery of similar services. As most costs were upfront, cost-effectiveness would likely improve if implemented as standard care.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Youens
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
| | - Georgia Halkett
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
| | - Cameron Wright
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.,School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania
| | - Moira O'Connor
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
| | - Penelope Schofield
- Department of Psychology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria.,Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology and Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Michael Jefford
- Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology and Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Sanchia Aranda
- Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, New South Wales.,School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Robert Kane
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
| | - Rachael Moorin
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.,Centre for Health Services Research, School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia
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Livingston G, Barber JA, Kinnunen KM, Webster L, Kyle SD, Cooper C, Espie CA, Hallam B, Horsley R, Pickett J, Rapaport P. DREAMS-START (Dementia RElAted Manual for Sleep; STrAtegies for RelaTives) for people with dementia and sleep disturbances: a single-blind feasibility and acceptability randomized controlled trial. Int Psychogeriatr 2019; 31:251-65. [PMID: 30221615 DOI: 10.1017/S1041610218000753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED ABSTRACTBackground:40% of people with dementia have disturbed sleep but there are currently no known effective treatments. Studies of sleep hygiene and light therapy have not been powered to indicate feasibility and acceptability and have shown 40-50% retention. We tested the feasibility and acceptability of a six-session manualized evidence-based non-pharmacological therapy; Dementia RElAted Manual for Sleep; STrAtegies for RelaTives (DREAMS-START) for sleep disturbance in people with dementia. METHODS We conducted a parallel, two-armed, single-blind randomized trial and randomized 2:1 to intervention: Treatment as Usual. Eligible participants had dementia and sleep disturbances (scoring ≥4 on one Sleep Disorders Inventory item) and a family carer and were recruited from two London memory services and Join Dementia Research. Participants wore an actiwatch for two weeks pre-randomization. Trained, clinically supervised psychology graduates delivered DREAMS-START to carers randomized to intervention; covering Understanding sleep and dementia; Making a plan (incorporating actiwatch information, light exposure using a light box); Daytime activity and routine; Difficult night-time behaviors; Taking care of your own (carer's) sleep; and What works? Strategies for the future. Carers kept their manual, light box, and relaxation recordings post-intervention. Outcome assessment was masked to allocation. The co-primary outcomes were feasibility (≥50% eligible people consenting to the study) and acceptability (≥75% of intervention group attending ≥4 intervention sessions). RESULTS In total, 63out of 95 (66%; 95% CI: 56-76%) eligible referrals consented between 04/08/2016 and 24/03/2017; 62 (65%; 95% CI: 55-75%) were randomized, and 37 out of 42 (88%; 95% CI: 75-96%) adhered to the intervention. CONCLUSIONS DREAM-START for sleep disorders in dementia is feasible and acceptable.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Most of patients with dementia are cared for by family members. Caring for people with dementia is challenging; approximately 30-55% of caregivers suffered from anxiety or depressive symptoms. A range of studies have shown that psychosocial interventions are effective and can improve caregivers' quality of life, reduce their care burden, and ease their anxiety or depressive symptoms. However, information on the acceptability of these interventions, despite being crucial, is under-reported. METHODS Systematic searches of databases were conducted for literature published on EMBASE, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PsycARTICLES until August 2017 and the searches were updated on June 2018. The selection criteria included primary studies with data about the acceptability of psychosocial interventions for informal caregivers and publications written in English. Two authors independently selected studies, extracted study characteristics and data, assessed the methodological quality of the included studies by using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) Quality Assessment Tool and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Qualitative Research Checklist, and conducted a narrative synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data. RESULTS A total of 10,610 abstracts were identified through systematic searches. Based on screening titles and abstracts, 207 papers were identified that met the criteria for full paper review, with 42 papers from 13 different countries meeting the inclusion criteria. We found high- and moderate-quality evidence showing psychosocial interventions were acceptable, with important benefits for caregivers. Facilitators of acceptability included caregivers' need for intervention, appropriate content and organization of the intervention, and knowledge and professionalism of the staff. Barriers to acceptability included participants' poor health status and low education levels, caregiving burden, change of intervention implementers, and poor system performance of interventions. CONCLUSION There is preliminary evidence to support the acceptability of psychosocial interventions for dementia caregivers. However, the available supporting evidence is limited, and there is currently no adequate information from these studies indicating that the acceptability has received enough attention from researchers. More well-designed studies assessing psychosocial interventions are needed to give specific statements about acceptability, and the measure of acceptability with psychosocial interventions should be more comprehensive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Qiu
- 0000 0001 0379 7164grid.216417.7Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078 Hunan China
| | - Mi Hu
- 0000 0001 0379 7164grid.216417.7Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078 Hunan China
| | - Yu Yu
- 0000 0001 0379 7164grid.216417.7Hospital Evaluation Office, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410008 Hunan China
| | - Bingwei Tang
- 0000 0001 0379 7164grid.216417.7Hospital Evaluation Office, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410008 Hunan China
| | - Shuiyuan Xiao
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
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Abstract
With the rising dementia population, more and more programs have been developed to help caregivers deal with the care-recipient as well as their own frustrations. Many interventions aim to enhance caregiver's ability to manage behavior problems and other deteriorations in functioning, with less direct emphasis placed on caring for the caregivers. We argue that techniques based on psychotherapy are strategically important in assistance provided to caregivers because of their utility for promoting emotional health. This article provides a focused review of such methods used in evidence-based intervention programs, along with the mechanisms of change associated with these methods. While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has a strong evidence base, there is also a growing trend to package CBT techniques into various psychoeducational programs. These programs, which we call psychoeducation with psychotherapeutic programs, have been consistently found to be effective in reducing caregiver distress and are suited for delivery in group format, even by paraprofessionals, to lower the cost of intervention. A recent trend is the effective use of technological aids (e.g., the internet) to deliver CBT and psychoeducation, reaching more caregivers. As for therapeutic mechanisms, the use of coping skills, reduced dysfunctional thoughts, and increased self-efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts has received support in studies. We conclude that psychotherapeutic techniques are increasingly being used effectively and efficiently to assist caregivers, aided by successful adaptation for educational or technologically advanced means of delivery. More research on therapeutic mechanisms is needed to understand how the techniques work and how they can be further refined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheung-Tak Cheng
- Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong. .,Department of Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Alma Au
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - Andrés Losada
- Psychology Department, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Larry W. Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Dolores Gallagher-Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA ,Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing/Family Caregiving Institute, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
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Kinnunen KM, Rapaport P, Webster L, Barber J, Kyle SD, Hallam B, Cooper C, Horsley R, Pickett JA, Vikhanova A, Espie CA, Livingston G. A manual-based intervention for carers of people with dementia and sleep disturbances: an acceptability and feasibility RCT. Health Technol Assess 2018; 22:1-408. [PMID: 30538021 DOI: 10.3310/hta22710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has been estimated that between 25% and 40% of people living with dementia suffer from sleep disturbances, and there are currently no known effective treatments. Sleep disturbances may be the direct result of dementia or due to other comorbidities, such as pain and limited mobility. If carers' sleep is also disturbed, carers too can become tired and stressed, and this sometimes results in the breakdown of care in the home. OBJECTIVES To design an evidence-based manualised non-pharmacological therapy for sleep disturbances and test it for feasibility and acceptability. DESIGN A single-blind, randomised, parallel-group feasibility trial, with participants randomised 2 : 1 to intervention or treatment as usual (TAU). SETTING Five memory services in two London NHS trusts and Join Dementia Research (JDR). PARTICIPANTS The study recruited people with dementia and sleep disturbances (who scored ≥ 4 on at least one question on the Sleep Disorders Inventory) and their primary family carers. INTERVENTION All participants were given an Actiwatch (CamNtech Ltd, Cambridge, UK) to wear to record their sleep patterns for 2 weeks before randomisation. The intervention group received Dementia RElAted Manual for Sleep; STrAtegies for RelaTives (DREAMS START). This was designed as a six-session, manual-based intervention for carers of people with dementia, delivered by trained and clinically supervised psychology graduates, based on evidence about managing sleep disturbance in people with dementia. It uses the structure of a previous manual-based treatment, STrAtegies for RelaTives (START). Family carers were consulted about structure, content and design. Sessions were interactive, and each involved techniques, tasks to practise between sessions, relaxation and a recapitulation on the previous session. The sessions covered understanding sleep and dementia, making a plan (incorporating information from Actiwatch read-outs and a light box to increase light), daytime activity and routine, difficult night-time behaviours, taking care of your own (carer's) sleep and using the strategies in the future. Carers kept their own manual, light box and relaxation recordings post intervention. RANDOMISATION AND BLINDING A statistician created an electronic randomisation list, stratified by site, using random permuted blocks. Those assessing the outcome were blinded to allocation; participants were not blinded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Outcomes were assessed at 3 months. (1) Feasibility, defined as the percentage of eligible people who consented to the study recruitment, with an expected value of 50% [95% confidence interval (CI) 41% to 59%]. (2) Acceptability, defined as the percentage of intervention group participants attending ≥ 4 intervention sessions, with an expected value of 75% (95% CI 59% to 87%). The predetermined criterion for progression to the main trial was acceptability of ≥ 70%. RESULTS Of 95 eligible patients referred, 63 (66%, 95% CI 56% to 76%) consented between 4 August 2016 and 24 March 2017: 61 from memory clinics and two from JDR. Of these, 62 participants (65%, 95% CI 55% to 75%) were randomised: 42 to the intervention arm and 20 to the TAU arm. Thirty-seven out of 42 participants (88%, 95% CI 75% to 96%) adhered to the intervention. CONCLUSIONS The results show that the randomised controlled trial is feasible and that the intervention is acceptable. A higher than expected proportion of eligible patients referred consented to the study and adhered to the intervention. LIMITATIONS Participants were not blinded and were recruited only in London. FUTURE WORK The results of this trial indicate that a future efficacy trial is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISCTRN36983298. FUNDING This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 22, No. 71. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. Funding was also provided by Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust to pay for excess treatment costs from therapist training and supervision and intervention delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsi M Kinnunen
- Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Penny Rapaport
- Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lucy Webster
- Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Julie Barber
- Department of Statistical Science, Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Simon D Kyle
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Brendan Hallam
- Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Claudia Cooper
- Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.,Services for Ageing and Mental Health, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | | | - Anastasia Vikhanova
- Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Colin A Espie
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gill Livingston
- Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.,Services for Ageing and Mental Health, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Rapaport P, Webster L, Horsley R, Kyle SD, Kinnunen KM, Hallam B, Pickett J, Cooper C, Espie CA, Livingston G. An intervention to improve sleep for people living with dementia: Reflections on the development and co-production of DREAMS:START (Dementia RElAted Manual for Sleep: STrAtegies for RelaTives). Dementia 2018; 17:976-989. [DOI: 10.1177/1471301218789559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Many people living with dementia experience sleep disturbances yet there are currently no known effective, safe and acceptable treatments. Working with those affected by dementia to co-produce interventions is increasingly promoted to ensure that approaches are fit for purpose and meet the specific needs of target groups. Our aim here is to outline and reflect upon the co-production of Dementia RElAted Manual for Sleep; STrAtegies for RelaTives (DREAMS:START), an intervention to improve sleep for people living with dementia. Our co-production team brought together experts in the development and testing of manualised interventions in dementia care and cognitive behavioural interventions for sleep disorders, with Alzheimer’s Society research network volunteers (ASRNVs) whose lives had been affected by dementia. Here we present the process of intervention development. We worked with (ASRNVs) at each stage of the process bringing together ‘experts by training’ and ‘experts by experience’. (ASRNVs)shared their experiences of sleep disturbances in dementia and how they had managed these difficulties, as well as suggestions for how to overcome barriers to putting the intervention into practice; making (DREAMS:START) more accessible and usable for those in need. In this paper we discuss both the benefits and challenges to this process and what we can learn for future work. Collaborating with ‘experts by experience’ caring for a relative with sleep difficulties helped us to develop a complex intervention in an accessible and engaging way which we have tested and found to be feasible and acceptable in a randomised controlled trial.
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Nickel F, Barth J, Kolominsky-Rabas PL. Health economic evaluations of non-pharmacological interventions for persons with dementia and their informal caregivers: a systematic review. BMC Geriatr 2018. [PMID: 29523090 PMCID: PMC5845149 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-018-0751-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This systematic review aims to review the literature on trial-based economic evaluations of non-pharmacological interventions directly targeted at persons with dementia as well as persons with mild cognitive impairment and their respective caregivers. Methods A systematic literature research was conducted for the timeframe from 2010 to 2016 in the following databases: Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, EconLit, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO and PubMed. Study quality was assessed according to the Drummond criteria. Results In total sixteen publications were identified. Health economic evaluations indicated the cost-effectiveness of physical exercise interventions and occupational therapy. There was also evidence to suggest that psychological and behavioral therapies are cost-effective. Health economic studies investigating psychosocial interventions mainly targeted towards informal caregivers showed inconsistent results. Conclusions Due to the increasing prevalence of dementia non-pharmacological interventions and their health economic impact are of increasing importance for health care decision-makers and HTA agencies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12877-018-0751-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Nickel
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Public Health (IZPH), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. .,National Graduate College 'Optimisation strategies in Dementia - OptiDem', Karl and Veronica Carstens-Foundation, Essen, Germany.
| | - Janina Barth
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Public Health (IZPH), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.,National Graduate College 'Optimisation strategies in Dementia - OptiDem', Karl and Veronica Carstens-Foundation, Essen, Germany
| | - Peter L Kolominsky-Rabas
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Public Health (IZPH), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.,National Graduate College 'Optimisation strategies in Dementia - OptiDem', Karl and Veronica Carstens-Foundation, Essen, Germany
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Hopkinson MD, Reavell J, Lane DA, Mallikarjun P. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Caregivers of Dementia Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Gerontologist 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnx217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Objectives
There is limited evidence for the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in managing psychological morbidities in caregivers of dementia patients. To evaluate changes in dementia caregivers’ depression, anxiety, and stress following CBT. Also to assess quality of life, intervention adherence/satisfaction and therapy effectiveness using different formats, frequencies, and delivery methods.
Research Design and Methods
Studies were identified through electronic bibliographic searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library) and from gray literature (Conference Proceedings Citation Index and clinicaltrials.gov). Data were pooled for meta-analysis.
Results
Twenty-five studies were included. Depression (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.47 to −0.21; p < .001) and stress (SMD = −0.36; 95% CI: −0.52 to −0.20; p < .001) were significantly reduced after CBT, relative to comparator groups, while anxiety was not (SMD = 0.10; 95% CI: −0.18 to 0.39; p = .47). A subgroup analysis demonstrated that statistically significant reductions in depression and stress were limited to group, but not individual, formats. An additional subgroup analysis revealed that eight CBT sessions or fewer were equally effective as more than eight sessions at significantly reducing depression and stress, relative to comparator groups. Furthermore, analysis with independent samples t-tests demonstrated no statistically significant differences between mean changes in depression (MD = 0.79; 95% CI: −0.45 to 2.03; p = .21) and stress (MD = 0.21; 95% CI: −1.43 to 1.85; p = .80) when directly comparing CBT groups of ≤8 and >8 sessions.
Discussion and Implications
Group CBT provides small but significant benefits to caregivers’ depression and stress. Therapy cost-effectiveness may be improved by limiting therapy to group formats and eight sessions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Hopkinson
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, United Kingdom
| | - James Reavell
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, United Kingdom
| | - Deirdre A Lane
- University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom
| | - Pavan Mallikarjun
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, United Kingdom
- Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham
- Forward Thinking Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Sin J, Henderson C, Spain D, Cornelius V, Chen T, Gillard S. eHealth interventions for family carers of people with long term illness: A promising approach? Clin Psychol Rev 2018; 60:109-125. [PMID: 29429856 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Family carers of people who have long term illness often experience physical and mental health morbidities, and burden. While there is good evidence to suggest that carers benefit from psychosocial interventions, these have primarily been delivered via face-to-face individual or group-formats. eHealth interventions offer a novel, accessible and self-paced approach to care delivery. Whether these are effective for carers' wellbeing has been little explored. This paper reports the first comprehensive systematic review in this area. A total of 78 studies, describing 62 discrete interventions, were identified. Interventions commonly aimed to promote carers' knowledge, self-efficacy, caregiving appraisal, and reduce global health morbidities. Interventions were offered to carers of people with a wide range of long term illness; dementia has been the most researched area, as reported in 40% of studies. Clinical and methodological heterogeneity in interventions precluded meta-analyses, and so data were analysed narratively. The most popular approach has comprised psychoeducational interventions delivered via an enriched online environment with supplementary modes of communication, such as network support with professionals and peers. Overall, carers appreciate the flexibility and self-paced nature of eHealth interventions, with high rates of satisfaction and acceptability. More studies using robust designs are needed to extend the evidence base.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Sin
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, England, UK; School of Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 6AL, England, UK.
| | - Claire Henderson
- Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, England, UK.
| | - Debbie Spain
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, England, UK.
| | - Victoria Cornelius
- Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Stadium House, 68 Wood Lane, London W12 7RH, England, UK.
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, England, UK.
| | - Steve Gillard
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, England, UK.
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Abstract
Carer stress is well documented, especially in those caring for individuals with dementia. A recommendation of all national dementia strategies is to provide excellent support and information to informal carers of people with dementia. NICE guidance suggests that a range of tailored interventions, including psychological input, psychoeducation and training courses, should be offered to reduce caregiver burden and stress, although good-quality outcome-based evidence is lacking. On the basis of a narrative review of the literature, we describe individual and multicomponent carer support packages and discuss their evidence base, reflecting on outcomes for carers. Multicomponent interventions have the best evidence for effectiveness.Learning Objectives• Consider the risks of both physical and psychological harm experienced by carers of people with dementia (often referred to as carer burden or caregiver burden)• Be aware of the interventions available for the support of carers of people with dementia• Consider the evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions and be aware of the limitations of the evidence
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Livingston G, Sommerlad A, Orgeta V, Costafreda SG, Huntley J, Ames D, Ballard C, Banerjee S, Burns A, Cohen-Mansfield J, Cooper C, Fox N, Gitlin LN, Howard R, Kales HC, Larson EB, Ritchie K, Rockwood K, Sampson EL, Samus Q, Schneider LS, Selbæk G, Teri L, Mukadam N. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care. Lancet 2017; 390:2673-2734. [PMID: 28735855 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(17)31363-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3325] [Impact Index Per Article: 475.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gill Livingston
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | | | - Vasiliki Orgeta
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sergi G Costafreda
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Jonathan Huntley
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Department of Old Age Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - David Ames
- National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, University of Melbourne, Kew, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Sube Banerjee
- Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Alistair Burns
- Centre for Dementia Studies, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jiska Cohen-Mansfield
- Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Heczeg Institute on Aging, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Minerva Center for Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Claudia Cooper
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Nick Fox
- Dementia Research Centre, University College London, Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Laura N Gitlin
- Center for Innovative Care in Aging, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert Howard
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK; Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Helen C Kales
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Eric B Larson
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Karen Ritchie
- Inserm, Unit 1061, Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, La Colombière Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kenneth Rockwood
- Centre for the Health Care of Elderly People, Geriatric Medicine Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Elizabeth L Sampson
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Quincy Samus
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bayview, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lon S Schneider
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioural Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Geir Selbæk
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Aging and Health, Vestfold Health Trust, Tønsberg, Norway; Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Old Age Psychiatric Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway
| | - Linda Teri
- Department Psychosocial and Community Health, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Naaheed Mukadam
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
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Donnelly NA, Humphries N, Hickey A, Doyle F. "We don't have the infrastructure to support them at home": How health system inadequacies impact on long-term care admissions of people with dementia. Health Policy 2017; 121:1280-7. [PMID: 29031934 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2017.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The influence of healthcare system factors on long-term care admissions has received relatively little attention. We address this by examining how inadequacies in the healthcare system impact on long-term care admissions of people with dementia. This is done in the context of the Irish healthcare system. METHODS Thirty-eight qualitative in-depth interviews with healthcare professionals and family carers were conducted. Interviews focused on participants' perceptions of the main factors which influence admission to long-term care. Interviews were analysed thematically. RESULTS The findings suggest that long-term care admissions of people with dementia may be affected by inadequacies in the healthcare system in three ways. Firstly, participants regarded the economic crisis in Ireland to have exacerbated the under-resourcing of community care services. These services were also reported to be inequitable. Consequently, the effectiveness of community care was seen to be limited. Secondly, such limits in community care appear to increase acute hospital admissions. Finally, admission of people with dementia to acute hospitals was believed to accelerate the journey towards long-term care. CONCLUSIONS Inadequacies in the healthcare system are reported to have a substantial impact on the threshold for long-term care admissions. The findings indicate that we cannot fully understand the factors that predict long-term care admission of people with dementia without accounting for healthcare system factors on the continuation of homecare.
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Lord K, Rapaport P, Cooper C, Livingston G. Disseminating START: training clinical psychologists and admiral nurses as trainers in a psychosocial intervention for carers of people with dementia's depressive and anxiety symptoms. BMJ Open 2017; 7:e017759. [PMID: 28827274 PMCID: PMC5724092 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To put into practice and to evaluate an initial dissemination programme for the Strategies for Relatives (START), a clinically and cost-effective manualised intervention for family carers of people with dementia. SETTING We offered 3-hour 'train-the-trainer' sessions through the British Psychological Society and Dementia UK. PARTICIPANTS Clinical psychologists and admiral nurses across the UK. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES After the training session, attendees completed an evaluation. Attendees were asked how they had implemented START 6 and 12 months later, and to participate in telephone interviews about their experiences of what helps or hinders implementation 1 year after training. RESULTS We trained 134 clinical psychologists and 39 admiral nurses through 14 training sessions between October 2014 and September 2015 in nine UK locations and made materials available online. The 40 survey respondents had trained 75 other staff. By this time, 136 carers had received START across 11 service areas. Findings from 13 qualitative interviews indicated that some clinical psychologists had begun to implement START, facilitated by buy-in from colleagues, existing skills in delivering this type of intervention, availability of other staff to deliver the intervention and support from the research team. Admiral nurses did not supervise other staff and were unable to cascade the intervention. Where START has not been used, common barriers included lack of staff to deliver the intervention and family carer support not being a service priority. Participants wanted the training to be longer. CONCLUSIONS We trained clinical psychologists and admiral nurses to deliver and implement START locally. Results from survey respondents show that it was cascaded further and used in practice in some areas, but we do not know whether START was implemented by non-respondents. Future dissemination requires management buy-in, availability of practitioners and supervisors and consideration of other ways of delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Lord
- Faculty of Health Studies, School of Dementia Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Penny Rapaport
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Claudia Cooper
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gill Livingston
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
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Vandepitte S, Van Den Noortgate N, Putman K, Verhaeghe S, Faes K, Annemans L. Effectiveness of Supporting Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Systematic Review of Randomized and Non-Randomized Controlled Trials. J Alzheimers Dis 2017; 52:929-65. [PMID: 27079704 DOI: 10.3233/jad-151011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dementia is known as a major public health problem affecting both patients and caregivers, and placing a high financial strain upon society. In community-dwelling patients, it is important to support informal caregivers in order to help them sustain their demanding role. Previous reviews about effectiveness of such supporting strategies often included a small number of studies, focused only on particular supportive types, particular outcomes, or solely on caregivers. OBJECTIVE A general systematic review was conducted investigating effectiveness of different supportive strategies on at least the well-being of the caregiver or the care-recipient. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted in Web of Science and PubMed. An adapted version of the Downs and Black (1998) checklist was used to assess methodological quality. A new classification was developed to group different types of caregiver support. RESULTS Fifty-three papers met the inclusion criteria. Although 87% of the interventions were to some extent effective, methods and findings were rather inconsistent. Psychoeducational interventions generally lead to positive outcomes for caregivers, and delay permanent institutionalization of care-recipients. Cognitive behavioral therapy decreases dysfunctional thoughts among caregivers. Occupational therapy decreases behavioral problems among patients and improves self-efficacy of caregivers. In general, those interventions tailored on individual level generate better outcomes. Comparative research on respite care was very rare. CONCLUSIONS Despite methodological inconsistency, supporting caregivers appears to be an effective strategy often improving well-being of caregiver or care-recipient and resulting in additional benefits for society. However, there is a need for more research on the (cost)-effectiveness of respite care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Vandepitte
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Nele Van Den Noortgate
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Koen Putman
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Medical Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sofie Verhaeghe
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Kristof Faes
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Lieven Annemans
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Belgium
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Comas-Herrera A, Knapp M, Wittenberg R, Banerjee S, Bowling A, Grundy E, Jagger C, Farina N, Lombard D, Lorenz K, McDaid D. MODEM: A comprehensive approach to modelling outcome and costs impacts of interventions for dementia. Protocol paper. BMC Health Serv Res 2017; 17:25. [PMID: 28077155 PMCID: PMC5225619 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-016-1945-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The MODEM project (A comprehensive approach to MODelling outcome and costs impacts of interventions for DEMentia) explores how changes in arrangements for the future treatment and care of people living with dementia, and support for family and other unpaid carers, could result in better outcomes and more efficient use of resources. Methods MODEM starts with a systematic mapping of the literature on effective and (potentially) cost-effective interventions in dementia care. Those findings, as well as data from a cohort, will then be used to model the quality of life and cost impacts of making these evidence-based interventions more widely available in England over the period from now to 2040. Modelling will use a suite of models, combining microsimulation and macrosimulation methods, modelling the costs and outcomes of care, both for an individual over the life-course from the point of dementia diagnosis, and for individuals and England as a whole in a particular year. Project outputs will include an online Dementia Evidence Toolkit, making evidence summaries and a literature database available free to anyone, papers in academic journals and other written outputs, and a MODEM Legacy Model, which will enable local commissioners of services to apply the model to their own populations. Discussion Modelling the effects of evidence-based cost-effective interventions and making this information widely available has the potential to improve the health and quality of life both of people with dementia and their carers, while ensuring that resources are used efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelina Comas-Herrera
- Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
| | - Martin Knapp
- Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Raphael Wittenberg
- Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Sube Banerjee
- Centre for Dementia Studies at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, UK
| | - Ann Bowling
- Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Emily Grundy
- Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Social Science, London, UK
| | - Carol Jagger
- Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Nicolas Farina
- Centre for Dementia Studies at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, UK
| | - Daniel Lombard
- Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Klara Lorenz
- Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - David McDaid
- Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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Sepe-Monti M, Vanacore N, Bartorelli L, Tognetti A, Giubilei F. The Savvy Caregiver Program: A Probe Multicenter Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial in Caregivers of Patients Affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 54:1235-1246. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-160235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Micaela Sepe-Monti
- Saint Andrew Hospital, NESMOS Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Franco Giubilei
- Saint Andrew Hospital, NESMOS Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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Cooper C, Barber J, Griffin M, Rapaport P, Livingston G. Effectiveness of START psychological intervention in reducing abuse by dementia family carers: randomized controlled trial. Int Psychogeriatr 2016; 28:881-7. [PMID: 26652193 DOI: 10.1017/S1041610215002033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family carers of people with dementia frequently report acting abusively toward them and carer psychological morbidity predicts this. We investigated whether START (STrAtegies for RelaTives), a psychological intervention which reduces depression and anxiety in family carers also reduces abusive behavior in carers of people living in their own homes. We also explored the longitudinal course of carer abusive behavior over two year. METHODS We included self-identified family carers who gave support at least weekly to people with dementia referred in the previous year to three UK mental health services and a neurological dementia service. We randomly assigned these carers to START, an eight-session, manual-based coping intervention, or treatment as usual (TAU). Carer abusive behavior (Modified Conflict Tactic Scale (MCTS) score ≥2 representing significant abuse) was assessed at baseline, 4, 8, 12, and 24 months. RESULTS We recruited 260 carers, 173 to START and 87 to TAU. There was no evidence that abusive behavior levels differed between randomization groups or changed over time. A quarter of carers still reported significant abuse after two years, but those not acting abusively at baseline did not become abusive. CONCLUSION There was no evidence that START, which reduced carer anxiety and depression, reduced carer abusive behavior. For ethical reasons, we frequently intervened to manage concerning abuse reported in both groups, which may have disguised an intervention effect. Future dementia research should include elder abuse as an outcome, and consider carefully how to manage detected abuse.
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Yeom J, Yoo R, Bae S, Kang Y, Kim GH, Na HR, Choi SH, Jeong JH. Recent Updates of Therapeutic Intervention Programs for Caregivers of Patient with Dementia: Proposal of Hospital-Based Individual Therapy. Dement Neurocogn Disord 2016; 15:29-36. [PMID: 30906337 DOI: 10.12779/dnd.2016.15.2.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Caring for people with dementia is associated with multiple devastating social, financial, physical, and psychological challenges. There is strong evidence that multicomponent tailored caregiver intervention is effective in improving caregiver well-being and delaying institutionalization. In US, the government is actively funding for developing caregiver program and to prove its efficacy through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to translate into practice. Even with the introduction of Korean Long-term Care Plan, still, the most of the patients with dementia are being cared by the family members. The distress of caregiving is enormous, but structured therapeutic intervention program which efficacy is proven through RCT is very insufficient in Korea. The purpose of this article is to review the caregiver intervention programs of ongoing clinical trials comparing US and Korea, and to propose a tailored, therapeutic intervention program (I-CARE; A multicenter, randomized trial to assess efficacy of therapeutic intervention programs for decreasing caregiver burden in dementia caregiver) for hospital-care in Korea.
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Luyten J, Naci H, Knapp M. Economic evaluation of mental health interventions: an introduction to cost-utility analysis. Evid Based Ment Health 2016; 19:49-53. [PMID: 27075444 PMCID: PMC10699413 DOI: 10.1136/eb-2016-102354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Finite resources need to be allocated over an ever-increasing range of competing health policies and interventions. Economic evaluation has been developed as a methodology to inform decision makers on the efficiency of particular resource allocations. In this paper we summarize cost-utility analysis, one of the most widely-used forms of economic evaluation in healthcare. We discuss its main elements, interpretation, limitations and relevance to the domain of mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Luyten
- Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Huseyin Naci
- Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Martin Knapp
- Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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Harman NL, Conroy EJ, Lewis SC, Murray G, Norrie J, Sydes MR, Lane JA, Altman DG, Baigent C, Bliss JM, Campbell MK, Elbourne D, Evans S, Sandercock P, Gamble C. Exploring the role and function of trial steering committees: results of an expert panel meeting. Trials 2015; 16:597. [PMID: 26715378 PMCID: PMC4696246 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-015-1125-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The independent oversight of clinical trials, which is recommended by the Medical Research Council (MRC) Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice, is typically provided by an independent advisory Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) and an independent executive committee, to whom the DMC makes recommendations. The detailed roles and function of this executive committee, known as the Trial Steering Committee (TSC), have not previously been studied or reviewed since those originally proposed by the MRC in 1998. METHODS An expert panel (n = 7) was convened comprising statisticians, clinicians and trial methodologists with prior TSC experience. Twelve questions about the role and responsibilities of the TSC were discussed by the panel at two full-day meetings. Each meeting was transcribed in full and the discussions were summarised. RESULTS The expert panel reached agreement on the role of the TSC, to which it was accountable, the membership, the definition of independence, and the experience and training needed. The management of ethical issues, difficult/complex situations and issues the TSC should not ask the DMC to make recommendations on were more difficult to discuss without specific examples, but support existed for further work to help share issues and to provide appropriate training for TSC members. Additional topics discussed, which had not been identified by previous work relating to the DMCs but were pertinent to the role of the TSC, included the following: review of data sharing requests, indemnity, lifespan of the TSC, general TSC administration, and the roles of both the Funder and the Sponsor. CONCLUSIONS This paper presents recommendations that will contribute to the revision and update of the MRC TSC terms of reference. Uncertainty remains in some areas due to the absence of real-life examples; future guidance on these issues would benefit from a repository of case studies. Notably, the role of a patient and public involvement (PPI) contributor was not discussed, and further work is warranted to explore the role of a PPI contributor in independent trial oversight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola L Harman
- Medicines for Children Clinical Trials Unit, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK.
| | - Elizabeth J Conroy
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK.
| | - Steff C Lewis
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Gordon Murray
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - John Norrie
- Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT), Aberdeen, UK.
| | - Matt R Sydes
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, London, UK.
- London Hub for Trials Methodology Research, London, UK.
| | - J Athene Lane
- Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration Trials Unit, Bristol, UK.
| | - Douglas G Altman
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Colin Baigent
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Judith M Bliss
- ICR-CTSU, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
| | - Marion K Campbell
- Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
| | - Diana Elbourne
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Stephen Evans
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Peter Sandercock
- School for Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Carrol Gamble
- Medicines for Children Clinical Trials Unit, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gill Livingston
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London W1T 7NF, UK.
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Wang X, Zhang L, Luo J, Wu Z, Mei Y, Wang Y, Li X, Wang W, Zhou H. Tacrolimus 0.03% ointment in labial discoid lupus erythematosus: A randomized, controlled clinical trial. J Clin Pharmacol 2015; 55:1221-8. [PMID: 25951426 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In this randomized, controlled clinical trial to compare efficacy and safety, 41 patients with labial discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) were randomized to 2 groups, either receiving tacrolimus 0.03% ointment (n = 22) or triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% cream (n = 19). Each patient was treated with 3, 2, and 1 daily doses in the first, second, and third weeks, respectively, for 1 course. After the 3 week treatment, patients with complete disappearance of erosion were followed up for 3 months. After the 3 week application, 20 participants in the tacrolimus group and 19 in the triamcinolone acetonide group completed the study. The rates of complete response were 70% and 89.5% in tacrolimus-treated and triamcinolone acetonide-treated patients, respectively, with no significant difference (P = .235). Reduction in erosion and erythema showed no significant difference between groups (P > .05). Final reduction in reticulation areas and numeric rating scale scores were significantly greater in the tacrolimus group than in the triamcinolone acetonide group (P = .013; P = .048, respectively). Only 1 patient receiving tacrolimus presented with slight discomfort. There was no significant difference in 3 month recurrence rate between the groups (P > .05). Topical tacrolimus is considered as effective as triamcinolone acetonide for the management of labial DLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
- Department of Stomatology, Daping Hospital and the Research Institute of Surgery of the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Jingjing Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Zhongting Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Yingying Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Yuhong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoying Li
- Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Wanchun Wang
- Department of Oral Medicine, Qingdao Stomatological Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Hongmei Zhou
- Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
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