German adaptation of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health II: Study protocol of a single-centred, randomised controlled trial

2Citations
Citations of this article
199Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Background: Caring for a family member with dementia is extremely stressful, and contributes to psychiatric and physical illness among caregivers. Therefore, a comprehensive programme called Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health II (REACH II) was developed in the United States to enhance the health of Alzheimer's caregivers. REACH II causes a clear reduction of the stress and burdens faced by informal caregivers at home. The aim of this protocol is to adapt, apply, and evaluate this proven intervention programme in a German-speaking area for the first time. This newly adapted intervention is called Deutsche Adaption der Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (DeREACH). Methods. A total of 138 informal caregivers at home are recruited in a single-centred, randomised controlled trial. The intervention (DeREACH) consists of nine home visits and three telephone contacts over six months, all of which focus on safety, psychological well-being and self-care, social support, problem behaviour and preventive health-related behaviours. A complex intervention assessment on effectiveness will be adopted when the primary outcome - namely, the reduction of caregiver burden - and other secondary outcomes, including changes with regard to anxiety and depression, somatisation, health-related quality of life, and perceived social support, are measured at baseline, as well as immediately and three months after the intervention. The change from baseline to post-intervention assessment with regard to the primary outcome will be compared between treatment and control group using t-tests for independent samples. Discussion. It is anticipated that this study will show that DeREACH effectively reduces caregiver burden and therefore works under the conditions of a local German health-care system. If successful, this programme will provide an effective intervention programme in the German-speaking area to identify and develop the personal capabilities of informal caregivers to cope with the burdens of caring for people with dementia. Trial registration. NCT01690117. © 2014 Heinrich et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Heinrich, S., Berwig, M., Simon, A., Jänichen, J., Hallensleben, N., Nickel, W., … Gertz, H. J. (2014). German adaptation of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health II: Study protocol of a single-centred, randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-14-21

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free