Online Programme “Symparastasi”: A Comparison of Psychoeducation and Multicomponent Exercise for the Caregivers of Patients with Mild Dementia. An Original RCT
Abstract:
Objectives: As there are many patients with dementia and their caregivers who do not have access to the third age centers, there is a need for creating an online platform which aims to educate the informal caregivers on matters regarding dementia. The aim is to educate the caregivers in order to be able to provide to their patients with the best care, safely and effectively.
Methods: This is an original randomized controlled trial with 60 participants. 30 participants were randomly assigned to group a, which received only the multicomponent exercise programme or group b, which received only the psychoeducation. Caregivers had access to the platform with their special username and password and received the instructions from the neuroscientist or the fitness specialist. The programme lasted for 24 weeks and every new lesson was released after 2 weeks. The 12th session was a private meeting with the neuroscientist and the fitness specialist in order for every participant to ask any question. Measurements used were: For physical performance, the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), for assess balance ability, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Muscle strength, measured by a 30second Sit to Stand Test. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination- Revised (ACE-R). For the neuropsychiatric problems Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was used. For the daily functioning the Clinical Dementia Rating–Sum of Boxes (CDR_SB) was used. For the caregivers the study used the following scales: State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) in order to record the anxiety levels, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for the depression and NPI and Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) in order to record caregivers’ burden. All tests were applied in the beginning of the programme, before any intervention occurred (T1), after 6 months of receiving the intervention (T2), and 3 months after the end of the programme as a follow-up (T3).
Results: Important improvements were shown in decreasing behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD) and improving the quality of life. Conclusions: Both interventions can effectively reduce BPSD and improve quality of life for both patients and caregivers, however none of these interventions could effectively improve the cognitive abilities of the patients. The general conclusion from the caregivers was very promising as they claimed that the programme was very helpful.
