Outcome Priorities Among Evidence-Based Dementia Caregiving Programs: A Closer Look. (17th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Powers, Sara; Ciancibello, Alyssa; Schaffer, Rachel; Bass, David; Minyo, Morgan
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 5(2021)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2021-12-17
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igab046.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Currently, the Best Practice Caregiving website provides information on 231 published studies from 44 dementia caregiving evidence-based programs that have demonstrated beneficial outcomes for dementia caregivers within health care and community-based settings. Across all programs, a total of 34 biopsychosocial outcomes were identified. Supported by the commonly used stress-related frameworks (e.g., Stress-Health Process, Cognitive Behavioral Theory) for which the programs were developed, the most frequently utilized program outcomes included: 1) Caregiver stress, strain, and/or burden (84.1%); 2) Caregiver depressive symptomology (79.5%); and 3) Caregiving efficacy, skills, and/or confidence (63.6%). The least common programmatic outcomes included: 1) Access to support information/Community service use (9.1%); 2) Unmet needs (6.8%); and 3) Respite/break from care (2.3%). The lesser utilized outcomes provide critical insight into current evidence-based programmatic priorities and ways in which professionals can seek to fill gaps in dementia caregiving interventions. Discussion will also focus on future directions of caregiver-related outcome assessments.