Effectiveness of an intervention in groups of family caregivers of dependent patients for their application in primary health centers. Study protocol

Emiliano Rodríguez-Sánchez, Sara Mora-Simón, Nieves Porras-Santos, Maria C Patino-Alonso, José I Recio-Rodríguez, Concepción Becerro-Muñoz, Diana Pérez-Arechaederra, Manuel A Gomez-Marcos, Luis Garcia-Ortiz, Emiliano Rodríguez-Sánchez, Sara Mora-Simón, Nieves Porras-Santos, Maria C Patino-Alonso, José I Recio-Rodríguez, Concepción Becerro-Muñoz, Diana Pérez-Arechaederra, Manuel A Gomez-Marcos, Luis Garcia-Ortiz

Abstract

Background: Although Primary Health Care (PHC) Teams are used to deal with prevention and treatment of sanitary problems in adults with chronic diseases, they usually have a lack of experience in development of psychotherapeutic interventions. However, these interventions are the ones that achieve better results to reduce symptomatology and improve emotional state of caregivers.The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention of psychotherapy in improving the mental health and Quality of life of caregivers. This intervention is based on theoretical approaches to care adjusted to cognitive theory, in order to be applied in primary health care centres.

Methods/design: This is multicentre clinical trials study, randomized in two parallel groups, carry out in two PHC, Study population: 150 caregivers will be included by consecutive sampling and they will be randomized the half to experimental group and the other half to control group. They provide mostly all the assistance to care-dependent familiars receiving attention in PHC Centers.

Measurements: Each caregiver will be evaluated on a personal interview. The caregivers' assessment protocol: 1) Assessment of different socio-demographic related to care, and caregiver's personal situation. 2)Care-dependent individuals will also be assessed by Barthel Index and Pfeiffer Questionnaire (SPMSQ). 3)Change in caregivers will be the principal measure: family function (Family APGAR Questionnaire), burden short questionnaire (Short Zarit Burden Interview), quality of life (Ruiz & Baca: 1993 Questionnaire), the Duke-UNK Functional Social Support Questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire-12, and changes in Dysfunctional Thoughts about caring. 4) Intervention implementation measures will also be assessed.

Intervention: A psychotherapeutic intervention will be 8 sessions of 90 minutes in groups. This intervention has been initially developed for family caregivers of patients with dementia.

Discussion: Psychotherapeutic interventions have been proved to obtain better results to reduce symptomatology and improve emotional state of caregivers. Moreover, this intervention has been proved to be effective in a different setting other than PHC, and was developed by professionals of Mental Health. If we found that this intervention is effective in PHC and with our professionals, it would be an important instrument to offer to caregivers of care-dependent patients.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01177696.

References

    1. Pinquart M, Sorensen S. Correlates of physical health of informal caregivers: a meta-analysis. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2007;62(2):P126–137.
    1. Sorensen R. Handbook on dementia caregiving. How effective are interventions with caregivers? An updated meta-analysis. Gerontologist. 2000;42:356–372.
    1. Peeters JM, Van Beek APA, Meerveld JHCM, Spreeuwenberg PMM, Francke AL. Informal caregivers of persons with dementia, their use of and needs for specific professional support: a survey of the National Dementia Programme. BMC Nursing. 2010;9:9. doi: 10.1186/1472-6955-9-9.
    1. Losada A, Perez-Penaranda A, Rodriguez-Sanchez E, Gomez-Marcos MA, Ballesteros-Rios C, Ramos-Carrera IR, Campo-de la Torre MA, Garcia-Ortiz L. Leisure and distress in caregivers for elderly patients. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2010;50(3):347–350. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2009.06.001.
    1. IMSERSO. El entorno Familiar. 1. Madrid: IMSERSO; 2005. Cuidados a las Personas Mayores en los hogares Españoles.
    1. Perez Penaranda A, Garcia Ortiz L, Rodriguez Sanchez E, Losada Baltar A, Porras Santos N, Gomez Marcos MA. Family function and the mental health of the caregiver of dependent relatives. Aten Primaria. 2009;41(11):621–628. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2009.03.005.
    1. López J, Crespo M. Interventions for caregivers of older and dependent adults: a review. Psicothema. 2007;19:72–80.
    1. Alonso Babarro A, Garrido Barrala A, Díaz Ponce A, Casquero Ruiz R, Riera Pastor M. Profile and burden of care in caregivers of patients with dementia included in the ALOIS program. Aten Primaria. 2004;33(2):61–8. doi: 10.1157/13057256.
    1. Pinquart M, Sorensen S. Associations of Stressors and Uplifts of Caregiving With Caregiver Burden and Depressive Mood: A Meta-Analysis. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2003;58(2):P112–P128.
    1. Losada A, Márquez-González M, Peñacoba C, Gallagher-Thompson D, Knight BG. Reflexiones en torno a la atención a los cuidadores informales de personas con demencia y propuesta de una intervención interdisciplinar. Psicología Conductual. 2007;15:57–76.
    1. Izal M, Losada A, Márquez M, Montorio I. Análisis de la percepción de capacitación y formación de los profesionales del ámbito sociosanitario en la atención a los cuidadores de personas mayores dependientes. Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol. 2003;38(4):203–211.
    1. Losada A, Izal M, Montorio I, Márquez M, Pérez-Rojo G. Eficacia diferencial de dos intervenciones psicoeducativas para cuidadores de familiares con demencia. Rev Neurol. 2004;38:701–8.
    1. Márquez-González M, Losada A, Izal M, Pérez-Rojo G, Montorio I. Modification of Dysfunctional Thoughts about Caregiving in Dementia Family Caregivers: description and outcomes of an Intervention Program. Aging & Mental Health. 2007;11:616–625.
    1. Losada A, Montorio I, Knight BG, Márquez M, Izal M. Explanation of caregivers distress from the cognitive model: the role of dysfunctional thoughts. Psicología Conductual. 2006;14:115–128.
    1. Bellón Saameño J, Delgado Sánchez A, Luna del Castillo JD, Lardelli Clareta P. Validity and reliability of the family Apgar family function test. Aten Primaria. 1996;18(6):289–296.
    1. Regueiro Martínez AA, Pérez-Vázquez A, Gómara Villabona SM, Ferreiro Cruz MC. Short Zarit interview on burden of care for caregivers in primary care. Aten Primaria. 2007;39(4):185–8. doi: 10.1157/13100841.
    1. Ruiz M, Baca E. Design and validation of the Quality of Life Questionnaire (CCV). A Generic Health-related perceived Quality of Life Instrument. European Journal of Psychological Assessment. 1993;9:19–32.
    1. Bellón JA, Delgado A, Luna JD, Lardelli P. Validity and reliability of the Duke-UNC-11 questionnaire of functional social support. Aten Primaria. 1996;18:153–163.
    1. Broadhead WE, Gehlbach SH, De Gruy F, Kaplan BH. The Duke-UNC functional social support questionnaire. Measurement of social support in Family Medicine patients. Med Care. 1988;26:709. doi: 10.1097/00005650-198807000-00006.
    1. Sánchez-López M, Dresch V. The 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-12): reliability, external validity and factor structure in the Spanish population. Psicothema. 2008;20:839–843.
    1. Zarit SH, Leitsch SA. Developing and evaluating community based intervention programs for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. Aging & Mental Health. 2001;5(Suppl 1):S84–S98.
    1. Losada-Baltar A, Montorio-Cerrato I. Pasado, presente y futuro de las intervenciones psicoeducativas para cuidadores familiares de personas mayores dependientes. Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol. 2005;40(Supl 3):30–39. doi: 10.1016/S0211-139X(05)75071-X.
    1. Gitlin LN, Corcoran M, Winter L, Boyce A, Hauck WW. A randomized, controlled trial of a home environmental intervention: effect on efficacy and upset in caregivers and on daily function of persons with dementia. Gerontologist. 2001;41:4–14.
    1. Gallagher-Thompson D, Lovett S, Rose J, McKibbin C, Coon D, Futterman A, Thompson LW. Impact of psychoeducational interventions on distressed family caregivers. J Clin Geropsychol. 2000;6:91–110. doi: 10.1023/A:1009584427018.

Source: PubMed

Sponsors en medewerkers

Medische omstandigheden

Geneesmiddelinterventies

3
Abonneren