title: Effectiveness of Caregiver Interventions on Patient Outcomes in Adults With Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.
abstract: Objective:We conducted a systematic review to evaluate whether caregiver-involved interventions improve patient outcomes among adults with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.Method:We identified and summarized data from randomized controlled trials enrolling adults with dementia or Alzheimer's disease by searching MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and other sources. Patient outcomes included global quality of life, physical and cognitive functioning, depression/anxiety, symptom control and management, and health care utilization.Results:We identified 31 trials; 20 compared a caregiver intervention with usual care or usual care with promise of intervention at completion of study period. Fifteen compared one caregiver intervention with another individual or caregiver intervention (active control). Compared with usual care or active controls, caregiver-involved interventions had low to insufficient strength of evidence and did not consistently improve patient outcomes.Discussion:Evidence is insufficient to endorse use of most caregiver interventions to improve outcomes for patients with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, MN USA; Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, MN USA; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Meis
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, MN USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, MN USA.
authors.forename: Roderick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, MN USA.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, MN USA.
authors.forename: Indulis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rutks
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, MN USA.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carlyle
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, MN USA; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA; Minneapolis VA Medical Center Section of General Medicine, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wilt
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; caregivers; dementia; family; patient-reported outcomes; systematic review