Examination of the effect of dementia care and support program on both client and caregivers' quality of life, neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregivers' burden

Objectives: In this research was to examine the effectiveness of Dementia Care and Support (DCS) Program for caregivers to a person with dementia on both client and caregivers' quality of life, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and caregivers' burden. Methods: The present is randomized controlled pre test- post test longitudinal trial. The present was included, seventy caregivers and seventy clients. The intervention group (IG) (n=36) received Dementia Care and Supported Programme, and the control group (CG) (n=34) received routine care pro¬gram. Data were collected between July and November 2016 and at Manisa Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital; Dementia Outpatient Clinic was conducted in depending on the Neurology Department. The present was finished sixty caregivers and sixty clients (IG n=32; CG n=30). Data for caregivers were collected by using Zatit Caregiver Burden Care Inventory, Quality of Life SF36, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Data for clients were collected by using The Quality of Life Scale for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Neuropsychiatric Inven¬tory Questionnaire. Percent and frequency were calculated for caregivers and clients. The data were analyzed by using the t-test, Chi-square test, Wilcoxan Signed Ranks, Mann Withney U analysis. Results: When the pretest-posttest scores of intervention group caregivers were compared, it was appeared the decrease of both caregiver burden and anxiety scores, and the increase in quality of life scores in IG. Also, it was found statistically significant difference between these variables (burden care p=0,003; quality of life on physical p=0,003; quality of life on mental p=0,016; anxiety p=0,003). There were statistically significant pretest-posttest scores worsening caregiver depression of caregivers in CG (depression p=0,047). Also, there were not statistically significant pretest-posttest scores increase quality of life and decrease Neuropsychiatric symptoms clients in IG (quality of life p=0,483; NPI p=0,067). There were statistically significant pretest-posttest scores change client quality of life and Neuropsychiatric symptoms in CG (quality of life p=0,037; NPI p=0,001). On the other hand, it was showed that caregiver burden, quality of life, depression and anxiety scores were statistically significant difference between the intervention and control (burden p=0,024; quality of life on physical p=0,010; quality of life on mental p=0,001; depression p=0,000; anxiety p=0,001). Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that the Dementia Care and Support (DCS) program effects on outputs of both clients with dementia and their family caregivers.