Table 1.
Summary table of studies included in the present scoping review.
| References | Population (sample size) | Intervention | Intervention outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown et al. (11) | Caregivers (n = 11), case-managers (n = 6), and primary care providers (n = 1). Mean age caregivers: 56.5 ± 13.5 | CareHeroes: Web-based and Android application for caregivers of Alzheimer's and Dementia patients. Implemented in cross-institutional settings over 11 weeks period | 50% of caregivers reported feeling more confident in determining solutions in new caregiving situations. 70% of caregivers found the application or web-based platform easy to use regardless of their primary knowledge of technology |
| Bush et al. (22) | Service veterans (n = 118). Mean age: 46 ± 13.5 | Virtual Hope Box VHB: smartphone application for improving stress, coping skills, suicidal ideation and perceived reasons for living among patients with elevated risk of suicide | There was an overall decrease in stress and increase in coping skills. Users reported increase in ability to cope with unpleasant emotions and thoughts after using the application for 3-week period. The improvement remained stable entire trial period of 10 weeks |
| Callan et al. (8) | Primary caregivers (n = 27). Mean age: 74 ± 6.52 | Adaptive Paced Visual Serial Attention Task (APVSAT): Computer-based cognitive training for the spousal caregivers of the individuals with Dementia | There was a noted increase in performance from the beginning till the end of the 4 week trial, with improve in problem-solving, coping, planning, and persevering with goal directed tasks |
| Croockston et al. (23) | Users of mental and emotional health applications (n = 150). The minimal age for participation: 18 | Mindshift, Happify and other self-help applications: Association between theoretical behavioral change mechanisms and the use of self-help applications | Applications increased the overall motivation to be mentally and emotionally healthy. There was an increase in desire to set goals, maintain confidence and control |
| Frisbee et al. (24) | Caregiver-Veteran dyads (n = 882) | Care, RX Refill, Journal, Care4Caregivers, VA Pain Coach, VA PTSD Coach: Applications developed specifically for the study and available only for family caregivers of veterans who suffered severe physical and mental health injuries | Caregivers that experienced most burden, low preparedness, and high strain showed high usage of applications. The applications were used the most when the caregivers needed the assistance with the caregiving tasks |
| Grossman et al. (7) | 200,000 mobile applications reviewed | iTunes, AppStore, and Google Play were searched. 44 applications were shortlisted to provide interventions for caregivers of older adults | 36 applications generally addressed one of two categories: information and resources or, caregiver-care recipient interaction, while 8 applications addressed additional categories and provided stress reduction exercises |
| Ho et al. (9) | Informal caregivers (n = 20). Age range: 39–77 | Mindfulness-based stress reduction MBSR: Aiming to improve psychological resilience of informal caregivers with a 8 weeks training course with the assessment of the blood gene expression profiles | Significant improvement in psychological resilience of some caregivers was reported. Predictive biomarkers were identified whose expression was associated with the greater benefit from MBSR training |
| Kajiyama et al. (10) | Latino/Hispanic caregivers (n = 25). Mean age: 63 | Webnovela Mirela: Culturally adapted Spanish language series designed to educate and train caregivers to cope with care recipients with Dementia. The format was designed to be available without internet access with educational content adopted from “Active Caregiving Empowerment Skills” | There was a significant decrease in the levels of stress and symptoms of depression (p = 0.045) |
| Núñez-Naveira et al. (25) | Informal caregivers (n = 77), from Spain, Poland and Denmark | UnderstandAid: effectiveness of application for caregivers of people with Dementia | 50% of participants evaluated positively technological and pedagogical specifications. There was a significant decrease of depressive symptoms |
| References | Participants (sample size) | Intervention | Intervention outcomes |
| Phongtankuel et al. (26) | Informal caregivers (n = 80). Mean age: 57 ± 12 | mHealth: exploring the use of mHealth applications, caregivers receptivity and concerns | Informal caregivers reported the needs for: communication, caregiving information, education, updates from professional personnel, and scheduling services, as an important features for mHealth application |
| Piette et al. (5) | Heart-failure patients-Caregivers dyads (n = 396) | CarePartner: Systematic monitoring and interactive voice response calls about care recipients' health condition | Caregivers living away from care recipient who received CarePartner in combination with some mHealth reported lower caregiving strain even 12 months after the trial and significant improvement in depressive symptoms |
| Poonamallee et al. (27) | University students (n = 26) | DarmaLife program: smartphone application aiming to improve emotional intelligence by targeting maladaptive personality traits | DarmaLife had significant positive effect on emotional and social competency |
| Tam et al. (28) | Caregivers (n = 43). Mean age: 64 ± 16.41 | Aging Service Technology AST: video educational program aiming to increase knowledge of caregivers about aging services | Younger caregivers (<65 years old) were more open to accepting the AST. Caregivers of the individuals who had fewer domains of functional limitation reported a positive change post-AST program |
| Tremont et al. (29) | Dementia care recipients and caregivers dyads (n = 250) | Telephone delivered interventions for caregivers—Family Intervention Telephone Tracking Caregiver FITT-C | The intervention FITT-C resulted in caregivers using community support services more and health resources less than caregivers in telephone delivered intervention with less Emergency department visits |
| Wijma et al. (30) | Informal caregivers (n = 42). Mean age: 55 ± 11.2 | Virtual Reality intervention—Through D‘mentia Lens TDL: aiming to improve empathy in informal caregivers | TDL significantly improved empathy, confidence in caring and positive interactions between caregiver and care recipient |
| Zheng et al. (31) | Study1:Veterans Affairs MC VAMC (n = 155). Mean age: 67.78 ± 11.92. Study2: VAMC (n = 72). Mean age: 75.42 ± 9.49 | Study1: Differences between computer-based and apps intervention usage. Study2: Differences between Telehealth devices and apps intervention usage | Group using computer-based interventions showed improvement in caregiving stress while Telehealth group did not |