Journal List > J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > v.26(1) > 1058111

TOOLS
Lee and Kim: Effects of a Dementia Family Education Program for Dementia Recognition, Burden, and Depression in Caregivers of Elders with Dementia
Original Article

J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2017;26(1):14-23.

Published online: 7 March 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2017.26.1.14

Effects of a Dementia Family Education Program for Dementia Recognition, Burden, and Depression in Caregivers of Elders with Dementia

Sun-A Lee1, Hee-Sook Kim2

1Baesung Hospital, Daegu, Korea

2College of Nursing, Kyungpook National University ․ The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Daegu, Korea

Corresponding author: Kim, Hee-Sook College of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, Korea. Tel: +82-53-420-4927, Fax: +82-53-422-4926, E-mail: hskim8879@knu.ac.kr

Received 18 August 20163 January 2017       Accepted 8 February 2017

Copyright © 2017 The Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

This study was to investigate effects of the dementia family education program on dementia recognition, burden, and depression in caregivers of elders with dementia.

Methods

Aquasi-experimental research with a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized pre and post design was used with 52 caregivers of elders with dementia living in D city. Data were collected from August 12 to December 12, 2013. The dementia family education program was provided to the experimental group once a week over 8 weeks, for 90 minutes per session. Data were analyzed using x2 test, Fisher exact probability test, t-test.

Results

Experimental group participants who took part in the dementia family education program had higher dementia recognition scores than the control group that did not participate (t=3.79, p<.001). Experimental group participants who took part in the dementia family education program had lower burden and depression scores than the control group that did not participate (t=-2.90, p=.006) (t=-2.22, p=.034).

Conclusion

The findings indicate that the dementia family education program enhances dementia recognition by caregivers of elders with dementia and lowers burden and depression in these caregivers. Use of the dementia family education program is recommended as an effective nursing intervention for caregivers of elders with dementia.

Keywords: Caregiver, Family, Dementia, Burden, Depression

REFERENCES

1. Kwon JD, Lim SE, Lee SH, Jang WS, Lee YJ. Dementia and family. Seoul: Hakjisa;2002. p. 545.
2. Ministry of Health & Welfare. The 3rd national dementia plan [internet]. 2015 Dec [cited 2016 Jun 30]. Available from. http://www.mohw.go.kr/front_new/jb/sjb030301vw.jsp?PAR_MENU_ID=03&MENU_ID=0319&CONT_SEQ=330876&page=1.
3. Park SJ, Kim HK. A study on the quality of life of elderly people with dementia and the environmental factor of facilities. Journal of Korean Gerontological Society. 2009; 29(4):1361–1381.
4. Seo MJH, Jung YJ. A qualitative study on caregivers’ burden experiences for the longterm care qualified elderly. Journal of Institute for Social Sciences. 2011; 22(4):3–30.
crossref
5. Park SY, Park MH. Effects of family support programs for caregivers of people with demantia-caregiving burden, depression, and stress: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2015; 45(5):627–640. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.5.627.
6. Kim SY, Kim JS, Yoon HS. Predictors of depression and life satisfaction among family caregivers for demented elderly. Journal of Korean Gerontological Society. 2004; 24(2):111–128.
7. Hwang SS. A study on the effectiveness of a family program for dementia family caregivers to ease their caregiving burden. [master's thesis]. [Seoul]: Kukje Theological University and Seminary. 2012; 83.
8. Kim HS. What is the effect of a support program for female family caregivers of dementia on depression. International Journal of Bio-Science and Bio-Technology. 2013; 5(5):39–46. https://doi.org/10.14257/ijbsbt.2013.5.5.04.
crossref
9. Alzheimer's association. Caregiver support groups. Online [Internet]. 2014 Jan [cited 2014 Apr 2]. Available from. https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-support-groups.asp.
10. Kim SY, Kim JW, Son SK, Min SY. The effectiveness of the group education program among the family caregivers of the demented elderly. International Journal of Gerontological Social Welfare. 2007; 36(2):7–34.
11. Ministry of health and welfare. The 2nd national dementia plan [internet]. 2012 Jul [cited 2015 Jun 30]. Available from. http://www.mohw.go.kr/front_new/al/sal0301vw.jsp?PAR.

Table 1.
Contents of Dementia Family Education Program
Session Theme Contents Time (minutes)
1 Introduction & understanding dementia

  • 1. Pretest

  • 2. Introduction of program and participants

  • 3. Learning for dementia definition and types

 90
2 Dementia diagnosis & treatments

  • 1. Dementia diagnosis

  • 2. Learning for prevalence, symptoms, progress, and treatments of dementia

 90
3 How to cope with physical problems caused by dementia

  • 1. Sharing feelings for the physical problems caused by dementia

  • 2. Learning care principles of the physical problems caused by dementia

  • 3. Learning coping methods of the physical problems caused by dementia

 90
4 How to cope with psychological problems caused by dementia

  • 1. Sharing feelings for the psychological problems caused by dementia

  • 2. Learning care principles of the psychological problems caused by dementia

  • 3. Learning coping methods of the psychological problems caused by dementia

 90
5 Stress management of dementia caregivers

  • 1. Sharing caregivers stress related to dementia

  • 2. Practicing stress management of caregivers related to dementia

    • - Relaxation technique with deep breathing

    • - Empty chair technique

    • - I-message technique

 90
6 Debriefing on feelings of dementia caregivers

  • 1. Creating image to dementia

  • 2. Externalization of dementia issues through kneading the color clay

  • 3. Speaking the feelings about created image

  • 4. Sharing emotions with participants

 90
7 Building social support system

  • 1. Looking for available social support resources

  • 2. Discussing about social support resources with quiz

  • 3. Knowing about social support resources

    • - Senior long term care insurance, basic pension for the elderly

    • - Dementia total support facilities

    • - Dementia programs at the public health center

 90
8 Organizing self-help group

  • 1. Reviewing program contents

  • 2. Sharing the feelings about the program

  • 3. Organizing the self-help group

  • 4. Giving the certificate

  • 5. Posttest

 90
Table 2.
Homogeneity Test of Dementia Caregiver's and Patient's Characteristics (N=52)
Variables Characteristics Categories Exp. (n=26) Cont. (n=26) x2 p
n (%) n (%)
Caregiver Gender Male 10 (38.5) 10 (38.5) 0.00 >.999
Female 16 (61.5) 16 (61.5)    
Age (year) ≥60 11 (42.3) 9 (34.6) 0.72 .698
50~59 9 (34.6) 12 (46.2)    
≤49 6 (23.1) 5 (19.2)    
Marital status Single 1 (3.8) 2 (7.7) 1.35∗ >.999
Married 24 (92.4) 24 (92.3)    
Divorced 1 (3.8) 0 (0.0)　    
Education Middle school 8 (30.8) 6 (23.1) 0.45 .798
High school 7 (26.9) 7 (26.9)    
≥College 11 (42.3) 13 (50.0)    
Religion Yes 22 (84.6) 19 (73.1) 1.04∗ .249
No 4 (15.4) 7 (26.9)    
Occupation Blue & white color 13 (50.0) 9 (34.6) 1.26 .532
Professional & service 7 (26.9) 9 (34.6)    
None 6 (23.1) 8 (30.8)    
Family income (10,000 won/month) <200 11 (42.3) 8 (30.8) 2.36 .307
200~400 10 (38.5) 8 (30.8)    
>400 5 (19.2) 10 (38.6)    
Relationship with patient Spouse 7 (26.9) 5 (19.2) 1.25∗ .793
Son 5 (19.2) 8 (30.8)    
Daughter 10 (38.5) 10 (38.5)    
The others 4 (15.4) 3 (11.5)    
Medical coverage Health insurance 21 (80.8) 24 (92.3) 1.49∗ .209
Medical aid 5 (19.2) 2 (7.7)    
Information for dementia Expert 8 (30.8) 8 (30.8) 0.11 .946
Media 8 (30.8) 9 (34.6)    
The others 10 (38.6) 9 (34.6)    
Supporting duration (year) <2 13 (50.0) 13 (50.0) 0.00 >.999
≥2 13 (50.0) 13 (50.0)    
Patient Gender Male 6 (23.1) 6 (23.1) 0.00 >.999
Female 20 (76.9) 20 (76.9)    
Age (year) <80 17 (65.4) 13 (50.0) 1.26 .262
≥80 9 (34.6) 13 (50.0)    
Education None 10 (38.5) 12 (46.2) 0.32∗ .575
≥Elementary school 16 (61.5) 14 (53.8)    
Alzheimer 16 (61.6) 17 (65.4) 1.71∗ .776
Dementia type Vascular 3 (11.5) 4 (15.4)    
  Mixed type 5 (19.2) 2 (7.7)    
  The others 2 (7.7) 3 (11.5)    
Other diseases No 12 (46.2) 11 (42.3) 0.08 .780
Yes 14 (53.8) 15 (57.7)    

Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group

∗ Fisher's exact probability test.

Table 3.
Homogeneity of Dependent Variables in Pretest (N=52)
Variables Exp. (n=26) Cont. (n=26) t p
M±SD M±SD
Dementia recognition 50.31±6.01 47.57±7.46 1.45 .152
Burden 51.77±8.00 49.12±7.99 1.20 .237
Depression 29.73±7.05 28.04±6.54 0.90 .374

Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Table 4.
Comparisons of Dependent Variables between Two Groups (N=52)
Variables Groups Pretest Posttest Difference t p
M±SD M±SD M±SD
Dementia recognition Exp. (n=26) 50.31±6.01 55.46±5.05 5.15±6.28 3.79 <.001
  Cont. (n=26) 47.57±7.46 47.15±5.97 −0.42±4.09    
Burden Exp. (n=26) 51.77±8.00 47.50±8.91 −4.27±5.79 −2.90 .006
Cont. (n=26) 49.12±7.99 52.92±10.12 3.81±12.97    
Depression Exp. (n=26) 29.73±7.05 27.92±7.73 −1.81±2.97 −2.22 .034
Cont. (n=26) 28.04±6.54 31.96±7.43 2.92±10.45    

Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

TOOLS
Similar articles