The Impact of Educational Intervention on the Anxiety of Family Caregivers of the Elderly with Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Tri

Abstract

Background: Due to the increasing population of elderly and the consequent increase in the number<br />of chronic diseases such as dementia, the psychological complications such as anxiety in the family<br />caregivers increase. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of educational intervention on<br />the anxiety of family caregivers of the elderly people with dementia.<br />Methods: This randomized controlled trial was performed in the elderly Neurology Clinics in Shiraz<br />from May to August 2017. This study was conducted on 70 families with elderly people with dementia<br />who were randomly divided into an intervention (receiving in groups for seven sessions of educational<br />intervention) and a control group (Conventional care). Data collection tool was Spielberger's Anxiety<br />Inventory (40-items, score=20-80). Data were analyzed by SPSS version 21 using ANOVA test with<br />repeated measures and independent t-test.<br />Results: One and three months after the interventions, the mean scores of anxiety in the intervention<br />group were 70.51±3.78 and 70.31±3.43 and in the control groups they were 76.45±3.45 and 76.22±5.08<br />respectively. The results showed significant differences between the two groups regarding anxiety<br />after the intervention (P<0.001).<br />Conclusion: Educational programs held to promote and maintain the physical and mental health of<br />caregivers could reduce the anxiety of family caregivers of the elderly with dementia