title: Alzheimer's disease and its treatment with a novel transdermal patch therapy: survey of caregiver experiences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate experiences and perceptions of caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease using transdermal patch therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment methods for the pilot study comprised an interview between the caregiver and a moderator, an interview between 1 moderator and 2 caregivers, or a video diary. The subsequent quantitative study involved a 45-minute telephone questionnaire. For both studies, participants were required to be the principal caregiver of a patient with Alzheimer's disease who had been receiving transdermal patch therapy for at least 3 months. Their responses were grouped into the following 6 themes: interpersonal relationships, impact on caregivers, from symptoms to treatment, help and support for caregivers, daily routine, and caregiver experience with the patch.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 206 caregivers were enrolled from France, Germany, Greece, Spain, and the United States between July 2009 and January 2011 (pilot study: N = 56; quantitative study: N = 150). The studies revealed that caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease experienced emotional and practical impacts, and many felt that they had not received sufficient information from health care providers about Alzheimer's disease, treatment options, or available support. In the quantitative study, 47% of caregivers who had been caring for the patient prior to diagnosis (61% of total respondents) felt that there had been a delay in seeking medical advice, frequently due to slow onset of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. In both studies, patch therapy was considered more convenient and easier to administer than oral treatments. The practical and efficacy advantages of the patch often translated into emotional benefits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With recent data highlighting the importance of early initiation of symptomatic Alzheimer's disease therapy and the importance of reaching an optimal therapeutic dose, reasons for delay in treatment initiation need to be explored. Information that patients and caregivers receive at the time of diagnosis may aid therapeutic decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Center for Research and Advanced Therapies, Fundación CITA-Alzheimer, San Sebastian, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez-Lage
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pepp