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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2011 Feb;26(1):36–43. doi: 10.1177/1533317510387586

Dementia Caregivers’ Responses to 2 Internet-Based Intervention Programs

Elsa Marziali 1, Linda J Garcia 2
PMCID: PMC10845422  PMID: 21282276

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the impact on dementia caregivers’ experienced stress and health status of 2 Internet-based intervention programs. Design and methods: Ninety-one dementia caregivers were given the choice of being involved in either an Internet-based chat support group or an Internet-based video conferencing support group. Pre-post outcome measures focused on distress, health status, social support, and service utilization. Results: In contrast to the Chat Group, the Video Group showed significantly greater improvement in mental health status. Also, for the Video Group, improvements in self-efficacy, neuroticism, and social support were associated with lower stress response to coping with the care recipient’s cognitive impairment and decline in function. Implications: The results show that, of 2 Internet-based intervention programs for dementia caregivers, the video conferencing intervention program was more effective in improving mental health status and improvement in personal characteristics were associated with lower caregiver stress response.

Keywords: caregiving, caregiver stress, dementia, service needs

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Contributor Information

Elsa Marziali, Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit, Baycrest, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Faculty of Medicine and Social Work, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, elsa.marziali@utoronto.ca .

Linda J. Garcia, Elisabeth Bruyère Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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