title: German adaptation of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health II: study protocol of a single-centred, randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caring for a family member with dementia is extremely stressful, and contributes to psychiatric and physical illness among caregivers. Therefore, a comprehensive programme called Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health II (REACH II) was developed in the United States to enhance the health of Alzheimer's caregivers. REACH II causes a clear reduction of the stress and burdens faced by informal caregivers at home. The aim of this protocol is to adapt, apply, and evaluate this proven intervention programme in a German-speaking area for the first time. This newly adapted intervention is called Deutsche Adaption der Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (DeREACH).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 138 informal caregivers at home are recruited in a single-centred, randomised controlled trial. The intervention (DeREACH) consists of nine home visits and three telephone contacts over six months, all of which focus on safety, psychological well-being and self-care, social support, problem behaviour and preventive health-related behaviours. A complex intervention assessment on effectiveness will be adopted when the primary outcome - namely, the reduction of caregiver burden - and other secondary outcomes, including changes with regard to anxiety and depression, somatisation, health-related quality of life, and perceived social support, are measured at baseline, as well as immediately and three months after the intervention. The change from baseline to post-intervention assessment with regard to the primary outcome will be compared between treatment and control group using t-tests for independent samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is anticipated that this study will show that DeREACH effectively reduces caregiver burden and therefore works under the conditions of a local German health-care system. If successful, this programme will provide an effective intervention programme in the German-speaking area to identify and develop the personal capabilities of informal caregivers to cope with the burdens of caring for people with dementia.
authors: Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Leipzig University, Semmelweisstr, 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. Stephanie.Heinrich@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Heinrich
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Berwig
authors: Anke
authors: A
authors: Simon
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Jänichen
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Hallensleben
authors: Witiko
authors: W
authors: Nickel
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Hinz
authors: Elmar
authors: E
authors: Brähler
authors: Hermann-Josef
authors: HJ
authors: Gertz
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans