Improving caregiving competence, stress coping, and mental well-being in informal dementia carers

AIM: To study the effectiveness of Reitman Centre "Coaching, Advocacy, Respite, Education, Relationship, and Simulation"(CARERS) program, which uses problem-solving techniques and simulation to train informal dementia carers. METHODS: Seventy-three carers for family members with dementia were included in the pilot study. Preand post-intervention data were collected from carers using validated measures of depression, mastery, role captivity and overload, caregiving competence and burden, and coping styles. To assess program effec-tiveness, mean differences for these measures were calculated. One-way ANOVA was used to determine if change in scores is dependent on the respective baseline scores. Clinical effects for measures were expressed as Cohen's D values. RESULTS: Data from 73 carers were analyzed. The majority of these participants were female(79.5%). A total of 69.9% were spouses and 30.1% were children of the care recipient. Participants had an overall mean age of 68.34 ± 12.01 years. About 31.5% of participating carers had a past history of psychiatric illness(e.g., depression), and 34.2% sustained strained relationships with their respective care recipients. Results from carers demonstrated improvement in carers' selfperception of competence(1.26 ± 1.92, P < 0.0001), and significant reduction in emotion-focused coping(measured by the Coping Inventory of Stressful Situations,-2.37 ± 6.73, P < 0.01), Geriatric Depression scale(-0.67 ± 2.63, P < 0.05) and Pearlin's overload scale(-0.55 ± 2.07, P < 0.05), upon completion of the Program. Secondly, it was found that carers with more compromised baseline scores benefited most from the intervention, as they experienced statistically significant improvement in the following constructs: competence, stress-coping style(less emotion-oriented), sense of mastery, burden, overload. CONCLUSION: Study results supported the effectiveness of the CARERS Program in improving caregiving competence, stress coping ability and mental well-being in carers caring for family members with dementia.

“Care That Respects Individuality” Provided to Elderly People with Dementia as Perceived by Japanese Dementia Carers Qualified

The objective of this study was to clarify the contents of “care that respects individuality” provided to elderly people with dementia living in group homes as perceived by dementia carers qualified. We interviewed 21 dementia carers qualified working at group homes in Prefecture A about the practical contents of and their thoughts on “care that respects individuality”. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using the modified grounded theory approach (M-GTA). As a result, 14 concepts regarding the contents of “care that respects individuality” provided to elderly people with dementia living in group homes as perceived by dementia carers qualified were generated in the following 4 categories: “placing emphasis on the individual”, “respecting feelings”, “eliciting strengths”, and “close mutual relationship”.

Fight against Breast Cancer in Cameroon: Cross-Views of the Knowledge of the Female Population of Douala Hospitals

Introduction: Breast cancer in women is a global scourge due to its frequency and high fatality rate. If screening has made it possible to considerably reduce its incidence and its mortality in developed countries, in our developing countries, it remains frequent with a still high mortality due to ignorance, late and non-systematized screening. Research Question: Can female health caregivers be incorporated into a breast cancer screening awareness team? Objective: It aimed at evaluating the knowledge of female health caregivers in Douala hospitals, added to that of female users on breast cancer screening for their efficient operationalization in this procedure. Methodology: This was a comparative cross-sectional study for analytical purposes for a period of 07 months from January 15 to July 15, 2020 conducted by means of a structured and pre-tested questionnaire after informed consent obtained from the participants received in the consultation units of these hospitals. The study variables were socio-demographic and cognitive. The data collected were entered and analyzed using SPSS 23.0 software (statistical package for social sciences) with a significance level established for a value of p Results: We retained 1000 women fulfilling our inclusion criteria, including 818 users and 182 health caregivers, i.e. an average ratio of 4 users for 1 caregiver. The average age of the users was 31.03 ± 11.31 years and that of the caregiver was 29.54 ± 8.14 years (with extremes of 15 and 67 years identical in the two groups) with a respective median of 29 and 28 years old. Good knowledge was significantly associated with level of education (secondary OR = 0.38, p = 0.03 and University OR = 0.22, p = 0.001) with a predominance of good knowledge among care givers (83.5%) against 56.2% among users. The association between caregiver and good knowledge appeared to be statistically significant (OR = 0.25;p < 0.0001). In general, the association of users and poor knowledge carried a 4 times higher risk (OR: 3.94 (2.6 - 5.97) p Conclusion: At the end of our study, it appeared that female health caregivers had good knowledge and could therefore be enrolled in breast cancer screening awareness strategies.

Caregiving in Alzheimer’s Disease: Research Designs &Considerations

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias have made a considerable impact on society, and can take a significant toll on familial caregivers. Recent successful caregiving interventions suggest a promising future, though informed research design, a priori, is paramount in ensuring quality results that the Government and public may use to make informed policy and personal healthcare decisions. Research designs including basic science, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), qualitative, and quasi-experimental designs serve as the primary basis for discussion with literary examples and caveats.

Informal Caregiving for Persons with Chronic Conditions: Trends and Considerations

Aging adults with chronic conditions rely heavily on an informal network of caregivers to remain within their communities of choice. This reliance can take a significant toll on caregivers through the lens of physical and psychological problems, financial issues, and social isolation. These variables may then lead to less desirable outcomes for care recipients. This review highlights existing support services in their many forms, including: psychosocial interventions, environmental interventions, respite care, and health information technology as a method of delivery. Given the current trend with informal caregivers assuming increased responsibility in healthcare, programs and services supporting these caregivers must be understood and trialed to ensure that their needs are not overlooked.

Challenges Facing Women Caring for a Spouse Having Cancer Treatment: A Critical Literature Review

Introduction: Cancer affects patients and families, especially female spouses. Female carers are affected emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and physically. Challenges while caring for husbands with cancer include: higher stress;poorer health-related quality of life;emotional strain;impaired immune system;low appetite;high blood pressure;depression and anxiety. Female spousal carers also experience satisfaction that they rendered appropriate care to their spouse. Aim: To analyse challenges facing women caring for a spouse on cancer treatment. Method: Systematic critical literature review through CASP. Thematic analysis of data. Results: 16 studies met the inclusion criteria;12 were selected by critical analysis. 4 themes emerged: “Quality of marital relationship”, “Effective communication”, “Carers” burden and need for support’, and “Coordination of care among providers”. Discussion: 4 themes are discussed in detail and related to literature outside the review. Conclusion: Women caring for a spouse on cancer treatment is affected by the cancer, symptoms, hospital admission and caring. They withhold information from their spouse to protect him. They have poor quality of life and poor health. HCP rarely recognize their role or needs.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs about Dementia in an Urban Xhosa-Speaking Community in South Africa

Background: Dementia, a debilitating condition, requires particular attention in Southern Africa where there is a dearth of prevalence data. Population ageing and other risk factors are driving an increasing incidence of dementia. However, limited knowledge and understanding may impact the attitudes and practices towards persons with dementia. Aim: To investigate the relationship between the knowledge of dementia, its effect on the attitudes and practices toward people with dementia in an urban community setting. To determine the perceived availability of services for those with dementia, the awareness of elder abuse and care-giver burden. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in Khayelitsha. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used with assistance from isiXhosa speaking translators. A sample of 100 individuals was surveyed door-to-door from both the informal and formal housing settlements, using cluster random sampling methods. Results: There was deficient knowledge about dementia, with an average accuracy of 53.44% on the knowledge test. Only 10% reported knowing what dementia was. Participants had generally tolerant views about people with dementia. No significant relationship was found between knowledge and attitudes about dementia. There was a significant difference between people who would share their house with a family member with dementia or send them to nursing homes (p = 0.03). 64% of participants knew what elder abuse was. 19% knew of an elder who had been abused;amongst the most common forms reported were being locked alone in their house and being deprived of food. Conclusions: This study showed that knowledge about dementia was limited with no relationship to attitudes of high tolerance towards people with dementia. Elder abuse was well recognized, but poorly reported. Appropriate health promotion strategies and education should be conducted and further research should be done into dementia in South Africa.