title: The effects of a special computer network on caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are confronted with novel decision-making tasks that leave them at risk for social isolation. ComputerLink is a computer network providing information, communication, and decision-support functions for caregivers of persons with AD. One hundred two AD caregivers participated in a randomized field experiment to evaluate the effects of ComputerLink on confidence in decision making, decision-making skill, and social isolation. During the 1-year study period, AD caregivers averaged two encounters per week with ComputerLink for sessions lasting an average of 13 minutes. Access to ComputerLink enhanced caregivers' decision-making confidence. Decision-making skill was unaffected. ComputerLink access did not lead to changes in social isolation as measured by standard instruments. The decision-support function was used least often. Postings to ComputerLink's public bulletin board included both information-seeking and supportive messages. These findings are congruent with reports of other community-based interventions for caregivers and consistent with evaluations of computerized decision-support systems.
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Smyth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support