OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of attendance at a memory clinic on the psychosocial health of carers. DESIGN: Randomized control trial. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty community dwelling subjects with mild to moderate dementia and their carers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Carer burden, psychological morbidity and psychosocial health related quality of life at 6 and 12 months post intervention. MAIN RESULTS: There was significant improvement in psychosocial health related quality of life of carers as measured by the psychosocial domain of the Functional Limitation Profile (FLP) at 6 months (p < 0.01), including improvement in the subgroups of alertness behaviour (p < 0.05) and social interaction (p < 0.01), after adjustment for age of subject and baseline scores. The improvement in social interaction was maintained at 12 months (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in carer psychological morbidity (General Health Questionnaire), carer burden (Zarit family interview) or carer knowledge of dementia (Dementia Knowledge Test) at 6 or 12 months, between groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate improved psychosocial health related quality of life for carers of those with mild to moderate cognitive impairment attending a memory clinic. Further research in this area is indicated, comparing memory clinic intervention with alternative support.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of attendance at a memory clinic on the psychosocial health of carers. DESIGN: Randomized control trial. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty community dwelling subjects with mild to moderate dementia and their carers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Carer burden, psychological morbidity and psychosocial health related quality of life at 6 and 12 months post intervention. MAIN RESULTS: There was significant improvement in psychosocial health related quality of life of carers as measured by the psychosocial domain of the Functional Limitation Profile (FLP) at 6 months (p < 0.01), including improvement in the subgroups of alertness behaviour (p < 0.05) and social interaction (p < 0.01), after adjustment for age of subject and baseline scores. The improvement in social interaction was maintained at 12 months (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in carer psychological morbidity (General Health Questionnaire), carer burden (Zarit family interview) or carer knowledge of dementia (Dementia Knowledge Test) at 6 or 12 months, between groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate improved psychosocial health related quality of life for carers of those with mild to moderate cognitive impairment attending a memory clinic. Further research in this area is indicated, comparing memory clinic intervention with alternative support.
Authors: Richard Schulz; Alison O'Brien; Sara Czaja; Marcia Ory; Rachel Norris; Lynn M Martire; Steven H Belle; Lou Burgio; Laura Gitlin; David Coon; Robert Burns; Dolores Gallagher-Thompson; Alan Stevens Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2002-10
Authors: R T Woods; Esme Moniz-Cook; Steve Iliffe; Peter Campion; Myrra Vernooij-Dassen; Orazio Zanetti; Manuel Franco Journal: J R Soc Med Date: 2003-07 Impact factor: 18.000
Authors: Els J Meeuwsen; René J F Melis; Geert C H M Van Der Aa; Gertie A M Golüke-Willemse; Benoit J M De Leest; Frank H J M Van Raak; Carla J M Schölzel-Dorenbos; Desiree C M Verheijen; Frans R J Verhey; Marieke C Visser; Claire A Wolfs; Eddy M M Adang; Marcel G M Olde Rikkert Journal: BMJ Date: 2012-05-15