EFFECTS OF A SUPPORTIVE GROUP EDUCATION PROGRAM ON SOCIAL SUPPORT, COPING EFFICACY AND SYMPTOMATOLOGY OF PRIMARY FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF RELATIVES WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
Contributors: University of South Carolina.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 261
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Health.
Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Supportive Group Education Program on social support, coping efficacy and symptomatology of primary family caregivers of relatives with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The quasi-experimental study consisted of 61 primary caregivers, ranging in age from 48-77, who were recruited through agency contacts and randomly assigned to a control or treatment group.

The two, two hour, group treatment sessions provided 30 primary caregivers with informational and emotional support in managing the caregiving role. The investigator wrote the script for a videotape to standardize instructions in guiding caregivers to: share principal problems and effective coping strategies in managing caregiving; and analyze, select and plan the implementation of alternative strategies, in coping with a principal problem of each caregiver.

Outcomes of caregivers were measured by the Personal Resource Questionnaire (Weinert and Brandt, 1987), Jalowiec Coping Scale (Jalowiec, 1987) and the Symptom Rating Scale (Kellner, 1982). Primary caregivers experienced a significant increase on satisfaction with social support and a decrease on symptoms of anger-hostility, anxiety and depression. Treatment change effects were significant in use and effectiveness of coping strategies on four of the eight coping styles: supportant, emotive, confrontive, and optimistic. Thus, the three hypotheses are partially supported.

On caregivers' evaluation of group sessions, seventy percent of caregivers rated the problem-solving strategy from helpful to very helpful, while thirty percent rated it from slightly to fairly helpful in managing caregiving. Caregivers reported a high level of caring, cohesion and trust within the group.

As stressors of managing caregiving differ during stages of AD, longitudinal studies may enable investigators to determine problems, needs and goals of primary caregivers during varying stages of caregiving and to examine effective coping strategies and social support appropriate in managing caregiving. Longitudinal studies are most promising for using information, teaching-learning strategies and social support techniques, as developed for this study. A replication of the short-term sessions of this study, followed by group sessions, graduating from monthly to quarterly, is recommended. Some caregivers from diagnosis through death of relatives with AD, would be included.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-05, Section: B, page: 2250.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1992.

School code: 0202.