title: [Predictors of competence in family caregivers of dementia patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Differences in dementia symptoms at different dementia stages increase the burden of caregiving. The inability of family caregivers to meet patient needs not only influences the health of the patient, but also impacts negatively on their personal physical and mental health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study explores predictors of competence in family caregivers of dementia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a cross-sectional study to examine 123 participant groups. Each group included one individual diagnosed with dementia and one family caregiver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Predictors of caregiver competence included few / no caregiver chronic diseases, relatively high level of caregiver education, and lack of comorbidities in the care recipient. These predictors explained 26.7% of total variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that nurses evaluate caregivers' care competency in order to provide appropriate health information and assistance. Guidance provided should take into consideration the caregivers' educational background. Apart from providing information related to dementia behavior, nurses should also provide caregiver guidance information related to the effects of comorbidities on dementia, as appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontological Care and Management, Chan Gung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Tzu-Chung
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yea-Ing Lotus
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: Min-Chi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Huei-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency