This site uses cookies to measure how you use the website so it can be updated and improved based on your needs and also uses cookies to help remember the notifications you’ve seen, like this one, so that we don’t show them to you again. If you could also tell us a little bit about yourself, this information will help us understand how we can support you better and make this site even easier for you to use and navigate.

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

Authors

Heinrich, Stephanie, Berwig, Martin, Simon, Anke, Jänichen, Jenny, Hallensleben, Nina, Nickel, Witiko, Hinz, Andreas, Brähler, Elmar, Gertz, Hermann-Josef

Journal

BMC Geriatrics, Volume: 14, Pages.: 21-21

Year of Publication

2014

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.;

Bibtex Citation

@article{Heinrich_2014, doi = {10.1186/1471-2318-14-21}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-14-21}, year = 2014, month = {feb}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, author = {Stephanie Heinrich and Martin Berwig and Anke Simon and Jenny Jänichen and Nina Hallensleben and Witiko Nickel and Andreas Hinz and Elmar Brähler and Hermann-Josef Gertz}, title = {German adaptation of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health {II}: study protocol of a single-centred, randomised controlled trial}, journal = {{BMC} Geriatr} }

Keywords

adaptation psychological, alzheimer disease, caregivers, early medical intervention, epidemiology, germany, home care services, humans, methods, psychology, standards, therapy

Countries of Study

Germany

Types of Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease

Types of Study

Randomised Controlled Trial

Type of Outcomes

Carer Burden (instruments measuring burden), Carers’ Mental Health, Carers’ Physical Health, Quality of Life of Carer

Settings

Extra Care Housing

Type of Interventions

Intervention for Carers

Carer Focussed Interventions

Information and Advice, Other