title: Dementia caregivers' responses to 2 Internet-based intervention programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the impact on dementia caregivers' experienced stress and health status of 2 Internet-based intervention programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one dementia caregivers were given the choice of being involved in either an Internet-based chat support group or an Internet-based video conferencing support group. Pre-post outcome measures focused on distress, health status, social support, and service utilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contrast to the Chat Group, the Video Group showed significantly greater improvement in mental health status. Also, for the Video Group, improvements in self-efficacy, neuroticism, and social support were associated with lower stress response to coping with the care recipient's cognitive impairment and decline in function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that, of 2 Internet-based intervention programs for dementia caregivers, the video conferencing intervention program was more effective in improving mental health status and improvement in personal characteristics were associated with lower caregiver stress response.
authors.affiliation: Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. elsa.marziali@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marziali
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D049269:Videoconferencing