Telephone-delivered psychoeducational intervention for Hong Kong Chinese dementia caregivers: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial

Figures & data

Figure 1 Recruitment procedure.

Table 1 Topics of intervention

Session	Topic
1	Identifying problems and seeking help
2	Person-centered care in understanding the illness (dementia)
3	Communication skills with people with dementia
4	Cognitive training and social activities planning (daily schedule planning)
5	Understanding behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia
6	Management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia
7	Emotional support (grief and bereavement)
8	Emotional support (pressure release)
9	Environmental design and technological support
10	Introduction of community resource and utilization
11	Financial planning and ethical consideration
12	Future planning (long-term care concern)

Table 2 Demographic and baseline characteristics of intervention and control groups

Demographic/baseline characteristic	Total/median (%/range)		P
	Intervention group	Control group
Patient gender			0.351
Male	6 (33.3%)	4 (20.0%)
Female	12 (66.7 %)	16 (80%)
Carer gender			0.880
Male	5 (27.8%)	6 (30.0%)
Female	13 (72.2%)	14 (70.0%)
Relationship with patient			0.142
Spouse	1 (5.6%)	3 (15.0%)
Child	17 (94.4%)	13 (65.0%)
Grandchild	0 (0%)	1 (5.0%)
Son/daughter-in-law	0 (0%)	3 (15.0%)
Daily time spent with patient			0.619
<1 hour	3 (16.7%)	1 (5.3%)
1–3 hours	2 (11.1%)	4 (21.1%)
4–6 hours	6 (33.3%)	9 (47.4%)
7–9 hours	1 (5.6%)	1 (5.3%)
>9 hours	6 (33.3%)	4 (21.1%)
Carer age range (y)			0.344
31–40	1 (5.6%)	2 (10.0%)
41–50	10 (55.6%)	11 (55.0%)
51–60	6 (33.3%)	2 (10.0%)
61–70	1 (5.6%)	2 (10.0%)
71–80	0 (0%)	1 (5.0%)
>80	0 (0%)	2 (10.0%)
Carer education level			0.667
Illiterate	0 (0%)	1 (5.0%)
Primary	1 (5.6%)	1 (5.0%)
Secondary	12 (66.7%)	15 (75.0%)
Tertiary	5 (27.8%)	3 (15.0%)
Carer marital status			0.564
Single	7 (38.9%)	6 (30.0%)
Married	11 (61.1%)	14 (70.0%)
Carer monthly family income			0.885
$10,000 or less	3 (16.7%)	5 (25.0%)
$10,001–$20,000	9 (50%)	9 (45.0%)
$20,001–$30,000	2 (11.1%)	2 (10.0%)
$30,001–$40,000	2 (11.1%)	2 (10.0%)
$40,001–$50,000	2 (11.1%)	1 (5.0%)
More than $50,000	0 (0%)	1 (5.0%)
Maid employment			0.083
Full time	7 (38.9%)	10 (52.6%)
Part time	0 (0%)	3 (15.8%)
No	11 (61.1%)	6 (31.6%)
GDS	5.00 (4–6)	5.00 (4–6)	0.532
AMT	4.00 (2–8)	4.00 (0–7)	0.642
CMAI	45.5 (33–63)	41.5 (31–79)	0.482
ZBI	37.0 (17–54)	34.0 (15–57)	0.290
SE-OR	40.0 (30–100)	60.0 (40–100)	0.103
SE-RDB	50.0 (6–98)	50.0 (34–100)	0.742
SE-CUT	58.0 (40–100)	70.0 (10–90)	0.701

Abbreviations: AMT, Abbreviated Mental Test; CMAI, Cohen–Mansfield Agitation Inventory; GDS, Global Deterioration Scale; SE-CUT, self-efficacy – controlling upsetting thoughts; SE-OR, self-efficacy – obtaining respite; SE-RDB, self-efficacy – responding to disturbing behaviors; ZBI, Zarit Burden Interview.

Table 3 Pretest scores, post-test scores, and comparison of change score on the Zarit Burden Interview between intervention and control groups

	Intervention		Control		U	P
	Median (range)	Mean (SD)	Median (range)	Mean (SD)
Pretest	37.0 (17–54)	37.4 (8.66)	34.0 (15–57)	34.1 (13.3)
Post-test	36.5 (24–50)	35.6 (7.52)	34.0 (20–62)	36.4 (11.4)
Change scorea	−2.50 (−14–9)	−1.83 (5.26)	3.00 (−22–13)	2.25 (7.09)	83.0	0.002*

Notes:

a Change score = post-test (raw score) – pretest (raw score);

* P < 0.01 (one-tailed).

Table 4 Pretest scores, post-test scores, and comparison of change score on self-efficacy – obtaining respite (SE-OR), self-efficacy – responding to disturbing behaviors (SE-RDB), and self-efficacy – controlling upsetting thoughts (SE-CUT) between intervention and control groups

	Intervention		Control		U	P
	Median (range)	Mean (SD)	Median (range)	Mean (SD)
SE-OR
Pretest	40.0 (30–100)	56.7 (25.1)	60.0 (40–100)	64.6 (17.5)
Post-test	63.0 (20–100)	63.1 (29.9)	60.0 (39.2–100)	64.7 (18.8)
Change scorea	3.00 (−44–30)	6.44 (17.6)	−0.40 (−32–32)	0.06 (16.43)	123.0	0.050*
SE-RDB
Pretest	50.0 (6–98)	56.9 (22.1)	50.0 (34–100)	56.7 (18.3)
Post-test	60.0 (10–100)	62.8 (23.7)	51.0 (32–100)	59.1 (19.0)
Change scorea	7.50 (−20–26)	5.94 (10.96)	3.00 (−18–17)	2.35 (8.04)	130.5	0.075
SE-CUT
Pretest	58.0 (40–100)	62.2 (16.8)	70.0 (10–90)	60.8 (22.5)
Post-test	61.0 (42–100)	64.3 (17.7)	61.0 (20–95)	60.7 (22.8)
Change scorea	0 (−14–22)	2.11 (7.90)	0 (−36–20)	−0.07 (13.42)	169.0	0.381

a Change score = post-test (raw score) – pretest (raw score);

* P = 0.05 (one-tailed).