217 - ECN Award: Effect of a Chronic Disease Self-Management Support Program for Spouse Caregivers of Relatives with Dementia in Shanghai, China: A Randomised Controlled Study

Abstract

Background: Research found that caregivers of relatives with dementia(RWD) were more vulnerableto chronic diseases than those caring for relatives with other diseases. Unfamiliarity with and/ordifficulty in balancing their own health needs was common among the caregivers, from the findings ofour previous studies and relevant literatures. Therefore, an educational and psycho‐social supportprogram named Chronic Disease Self‐Management Support (CD‐SMS) program was developed forspouse caregivers of RWD in Shanghai, China.Research Objective: This study was to examine the effectiveness of the CD‐SMS program on spousecaregivers' health‐related results, including caregiving self‐efficacy, self‐efficacy for chronic conditionmanagement, and their health behavior.Method: This study was a randomised, wait‐list controlled design. A total of 53 participants withcommon chronic conditions were recruited and assigned to experimental (n = 25) and waiting‐listcontrol group (n=28) by stratified randomization. All participants received an illustratedpsychoeducation booklet. The intervention group received six bio‐weekly support group sessions, andthe control group will receive the same support group sessions after the posttest. Participants in bothgroups received baseline and post‐test assessments. The caregivers were assessed with the Chineseversions of Self‐Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6‐item Scale, Self‐Efficacy Questionnaire forChinese Family Caregivers and Self‐Management Behaviors Scale. The care recipients were measuredwith the Chinese version of Disability Assessment in Dementia.Preliminary results of the ongoing study: A significant interaction between time and group was found intotal scores of self‐efficacy for managing chronic disease and caregiving self‐efficacy for gatheringinformation (p<0.05). After intervention, caregivers in experimental group reported significantimprovements in the total scores of self‐efficacy for managing chronic disease, caregiving self‐efficacy,and three self‐management behaviors (stretching and strengthening exercise, cognitive symptommanagement, and communication with physicians). The care recipients' levels of activities of daily livingin each group were worse at posttest compared to those at baseline (p<0.01).Conclusion: The findings indicated that the CD‐SMS program was effective in improving the caregivers'confidence in balancing their caregiving management and their chronic health conditions management,and their main health behaviors were also improved.