Effects of leisure activities at home on perceived care burden and the endocrine system of caregivers of dementia patients: a randomized controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Psychological stress associated with caregiving is thought to underlie the high incidence of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and mortality, as well as reduced immune function, among caregivers of dementia patients. Here, we examined the effects of periodic leisure activities performed by caregivers of dementia patients with care recipients at home on perceived care burden and levels of stress hormones.


METHODS
Participants were 42 caregivers aged ≥ 65 years of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia. They were randomly assigned to intervention and non-intervention groups. The intervention group underwent a leisure activity program (30 min/3 times/week for 24 weeks) with the care recipient, and the control group underwent normal care activities.


RESULTS
The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) score, a subjective indicator of care burden, significantly decreased after intervention in the intervention group (p < 0.05), whereas no difference was observed in the control group. No significant changes were observed in adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, and cortisol levels in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of changes in stress hormone levels despite a decrease in subjective care burden in the intervention group might be explained by the effects of the chosen leisure activity on the neuroendocrine system. Our findings suggest that periodic leisure activities can reduce perceived care burden among caregivers of dementia patients. However, in order to evaluate accurately the effects of leisure activities of the present study, long-term follow-up of both caregivers and care recipients is necessary. The Nagoya University Department of Medicine Ethics Committee Clinical Trials Registry Number is 1290.
Department of Adult Nursing,School of Nursing & Health,Aichi Prefectural University,Tohgoku,Kamishidami,Moriyama-Ku,Nagoya,Aichi,463-8502,Japan.
Akemi
A
Hirano
Department of Community Healthcare and Geriatrics,Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine,Showa,Nagoya,Aichi,466-8550,Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Umegaki
Department of Comprehensive Community Care Systems,Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine,Showa,Nagoya,Aichi,466-8550,Japan.
Yusuke
Y
Suzuki
Department of Community Healthcare and Geriatrics,Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine,Showa,Nagoya,Aichi,466-8550,Japan.
Toshio
T
Hayashi
Department of Community Healthcare and Geriatrics,Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine,Showa,Nagoya,Aichi,466-8550,Japan.
Masafumi
M
Kuzuya
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002395:Catecholamines; D000450:Aldosterone; D012083:Renin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
care burden; catecholamine; dementia; intervention; regular leisure activity