title: Efficiency of an intensive educational program for informal caregivers of hospitalized, dependent patients: cluster randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Educational initiatives for informal caregivers have proved efficient at reducing some of their symptoms, consequence of their involvement in care giving. However, more progress must be made in terms of the design of more successful interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Randomized clinical trial to test the efficiency of an Education Program for Primary Informal Caregivers of Hospitalized Dependent Patients in relation to their burden, mental and physical health, and care related knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Cluster Randomized Trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  151 participants, primary caregivers of hospitalized, dependent patients, carried out from February 2009 to March 2010. They were assigned at random to two groups: one received an intensive educational program (n = 78), and the other just a generic speech (n = 73). The degree of burden of caregivers was recorded (Zarit Test), as well as their physical and mental health (SF12) and their knowledge of caregiving, before, immediately, after and one and a half months after the intervention. These analyses were carried out according to the Generalized Estimated Equations Method, in order to assess any possible improvements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants´ burden did not improve, as measured by Zarit Test (p = 0,338), nor did their physical (p = 0,917) or mental health (p = 0,345). However there was an improvement in their hygiene caregiving (p = 0,001) and mobility care giving (p = 0,001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregivers found useful the education program, providing them with an informal support group. Interventions need to be longer and more customized as well as adapted to specific demands. There is a lack of validated questionnaires to assess improvements in care knowledge. There is a need to develop programs that contemplate continuity of care from primary to specialized caregiving.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Cluster randomized trial: ESCPD2010.
authors: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Crta. Colmenar Viejo, Km. 9.100, Madrid 28034 Spain.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Rodríguez-Gonzalo
authors: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Crta. Colmenar Viejo, Km. 9.100, Madrid 28034 Spain.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: García-Martí
authors: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Crta. Colmenar Viejo, Km. 9.100, Madrid 28034 Spain.
authors: Ascensión
authors: A
authors: Ocaña-Colorado
authors: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Crta. Colmenar Viejo, Km. 9.100, Madrid 28034 Spain.
authors: M José
authors: MJ
authors: Baquera-De Micheo
authors: Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Crta. Colmenar Viejo, Km. 9.100, Madrid 28034 Spain.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Morel-Fernández
keywords: Care givers; Continuity of care; Dependent patients; Health education; Quality of life
references: Gerontologist. 1989 Feb;29(1):5-6
references: 2753373
references: Aten Primaria. 2003 Jun 30;32(2):77-83
references: 12841992
references: Gerontologist. 1995 Dec;35(6):792-802
references: 8557206
references: BMJ. 1999 Sep 11;319(7211):670-4
references: 10480822
references: J Clin Epidemiol. 1998 Nov;51(11):1087-94
references: 9817126
references: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2000 Apr-Jun;14(2):87-93
references: 10850747
references: Gerontologist. 2003 Oct;43(5):678-89
references: 14570964
references: Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2009 Jul-Aug;49(1):74-9
references: 18597866
references: Am J Psychiatry. 2004 May;161(5):850-6
references: 15121650
references: Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2010 May-Jun;50(3):254-9
references: 19481274
references: Health Serv Res. 1988 Apr;23(1):161-74
references: 3130326
references: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2002 Jul;57(4):P348-57
references: 12084785
references: BMC Geriatr. 2007 Jul 27;7:18
references: 17662119
references: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 May;51(5):657-64
references: 12752841
references: Am J Nurs. 2008 Sep;108(9 Suppl):47-53; quiz 53
references: 18797226
references: Gerontologist. 1993 Apr;33(2):240-8
references: 8468017
references: Gerontologist. 1991 Feb;31(1):9-14
references: 2007480
references: Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1999 Jan;99(1):26-32
references: 10066004
references: Gerontologist. 2006 Oct;46(5):620-9
references: 17050753
references: JAMA. 1996 Dec 4;276(21):1725-31
references: 8940320
references: J Clin Epidemiol. 2004 Aug;57(8):785-94
references: 15485730
references: Res Nurs Health. 2001 Oct;24(5):349-60
references: 11746065
references: Med Care. 1996 Mar;34(3):220-33
references: 8628042
references: Gac Sanit. 2005 Mar-Apr;19(2):135-50
references: 15860162
references: Aging Ment Health. 2001 May;5 Suppl 1:S124-37
references: 11513488
references: Image J Nurs Sch. 1997 Spring;29(1):59-64
references: 9127542
references: Int Psychogeriatr. 2006 Dec;18(4):577-95
references: 16686964
references: Psychol Aging. 1987 Sep;2(3):225-32
references: 3268213
references: Gerontologist. 2002 Oct;42(5):589-602
references: 12351794
references: Gerontologist. 2002 Jun;42(3):356-72
references: 12040138
references: Ann Intern Med. 2006 Nov 21;145(10):727-38
references: 17116917
references: Stroke. 1999 Dec;30(12):2585-91
references: 10582982