title: Efficacy of a multicomponent support programme for the caregivers of disabled persons: a randomised controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the present work was to measure the efficacy of a multicomponent programme designed to provide tailored support for the caregivers of disabled persons.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 135 caregivers-care receiver dyads were randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 66) and a control group (n = 69). One-third of the care receivers were demented, and two-thirds had other diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health centres (publicly funded primary health care systems) in 8 rural and urban communities in southeast Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The multicomponent support programme for the caregivers consisted of a 2-week rehabilitation period. The control group received standard care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Continuation of the caregiver and care receiver relationship, care receiver mortality at the 2-year follow-up as well as the health-related quality of life (15D scale) and Zung's depression scale of the caregiver at the 1-year follow-up were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the 2-year follow-up, the caregiver-care receiver relationship was terminated for any reason in 11 cases (17%) in the intervention group, and in 25 cases (36%) in the control group. After adjusting, the primary outcome (i.e., termination of care giving for any reason) indicated statistical significance (p = 0.04) with a hazard rate of 1.83 (95% confidence interval 1.03-3.29). With a similar adjustment, the difference in mortality and placement to institutional care between the two groups demonstrated a trend towards statistical significance. The caregivers' health, as related to quality of life and depressive symptoms, remained unchanged in both groups at the 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that a tailored support programme for caregivers may help the caregiver to continue the caregiver-care receiver relationship and delay institutionalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland. olli-pekka.ryynanen@kuh.fi
authors.forename: O-P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Ryynänen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nousiainen
authors.forename: E J O
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Soini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuominen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003704:Dementia / Q000401:mortality* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult