Bei Wu1,2,3, Darina V Petrovsky1, Jing Wang4,5, Hanzhang Xu4,6, Zheng Zhu7,8, Eleanor S McConnell4,9, Kirsten N Corrazzini4. 1. New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York, New York. 2. New York University NYU Aging Incubator, New York, New York. 3. Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York, New York. 4. Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina. 5. Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina. 6. Department Community and Family Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina. 7. School of Nursing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. 8. Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Shanghai, China. 9. Durham VA Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Durham, North Carolina.
Abstract
AIMS: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the characteristics and the efficacy of dementia caregiving interventions among the Chinese population. BACKGROUND: In recent years, an increasing number of dementia caregiving interventions have been developed for Chinese older adults living in Asia that aim to reduce caregivers' burden, depression and distress, and enhance quality of life. Little is known, however, on the nature and the efficacy of these interventions. DESIGN: Systematic review with narrative summary. DATA SOURCES: We searched four databases for studies published in English between 1 January 1994-30 December 2017. Nineteen studies reported in 23 articles were included in the final analysis. REVIEW METHODS: We used a set of criteria from the Cochrane Collaboration tool to assess for the risk of bias across studies. RESULTS: We found that interventions varied in length, frequency, approach, and content, making comparisons across studies challenging. Caregivers' burden, depression, and distress were improved among most included studies. All studies that examined quality of life of caregivers (N = 6) showed improvement. Most of the interventions showed beneficial effects on care recipients' behavioural symptoms, agitation, and depression; cognitive function, however, failed to improve. CONCLUSION: Although the review found mixed results on intervention outcomes, the majority of interventions showed a potential to improve the health and well-being of dementia caregivers and care recipients. This review provides suggestions for future dementia caregiving research in the Chinese population, such as inclusion of relevant theoretical frameworks and more rigorous research designs.
AIMS: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the characteristics and the efficacy of dementia caregiving interventions among the Chinese population. BACKGROUND: In recent years, an increasing number of dementia caregiving interventions have been developed for Chinese older adults living in Asia that aim to reduce caregivers' burden, depression and distress, and enhance quality of life. Little is known, however, on the nature and the efficacy of these interventions. DESIGN: Systematic review with narrative summary. DATA SOURCES: We searched four databases for studies published in English between 1 January 1994-30 December 2017. Nineteen studies reported in 23 articles were included in the final analysis. REVIEW METHODS: We used a set of criteria from the Cochrane Collaboration tool to assess for the risk of bias across studies. RESULTS: We found that interventions varied in length, frequency, approach, and content, making comparisons across studies challenging. Caregivers' burden, depression, and distress were improved among most included studies. All studies that examined quality of life of caregivers (N = 6) showed improvement. Most of the interventions showed beneficial effects on care recipients' behavioural symptoms, agitation, and depression; cognitive function, however, failed to improve. CONCLUSION: Although the review found mixed results on intervention outcomes, the majority of interventions showed a potential to improve the health and well-being of dementia caregivers and care recipients. This review provides suggestions for future dementia caregiving research in the Chinese population, such as inclusion of relevant theoretical frameworks and more rigorous research designs.