title: The effects of an integrated care intervention for the frail elderly on informal caregivers: a quasi-experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explored the effects of an integrated care model aimed at the frail elderly on the perceived health, objective burden, subjective burden and quality of life of informal caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental design with before/after measurement (with questionnaires) and a control group was used. The analysis encompassed within and between groups analyses and regression analyses with baseline measurements, control variables (gender, age, co-residence with care receiver, income, education, having a life partner, employment and the duration of caregiving) and the intervention as independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention significantly contributed to the reduction of subjective burden and significantly contributed to the increased likelihood that informal caregivers assumed household tasks. No effects were observed on perceived, health, time investment and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study implies that integrated care models aimed at the frail elderly can benefit informal caregivers and that such interventions can be implemented without demanding additional time investments from informal caregivers. Recommendations for future interventions and research are provided.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials http://ISRCTN05748494. Registration date: 14/03/2013.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Institute of Health Policy and Management, P,O, Box 1738, Rotterdam, DR 3000, The Netherlands. janse@bmg.eur.nl.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Janse
authors.forename: Robbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huijsman
authors.forename: Ruben Dennis Maurice
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: de Kuyper
authors.forename: Isabelle Natalina
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Fabbricotti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000379:methods*; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome