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Synchronous psychological interventions by videoconferencing for caregivers of people with dementia: an integrative review

INTERVENÇÕES PSICOLÓGICAS SÍNCRONAS POR VIDEOCONFERÊNCIA PARA CUIDADORES DE PESSOAS COM DEMÊNCIA: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

ABSTRACT.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the need to develop psychological interventions to support people with dementia and their caregivers in the context of social distancing. This study sought to investigate, systematize, and report results of scientific studies published in the past 5 years on synchronous online psychological interventions using videoconferencing for informal caregivers of people with dementia. The PubMed, BIREME, and Web of Science databases were searched using the descriptors “caregiver,” “dementia,” “online,” and “intervention.” Six international studies were included in the review. Results demonstrated, in general, that this modality of intervention was acceptable, feasible, and promoted benefits for the health, quality of life, and well-being of caregivers. A need was identified for further studies investigating synchronous online interventions that include follow-up and a control group to further the evidence on the effectiveness and feasibility of this type of therapeutic intervention.

Keywords:
Caregivers; Dementia; Internet-Based Intervention; Videoconferencing

RESUMO.

A pandemia da COVID-19 exigiu o desenvolvimento de intervenções psicológicas para apoiar as pessoas com demência e seus cuidadores no contexto de distanciamento social. No presente estudo, buscou-se investigar, sistematizar e apresentar resultados de pesquisas científicas produzidas nos últimos cinco anos sobre intervenções psicológicas online síncronas, por meio de videoconferência, com cuidadores informais de pessoas com demência. Para tanto, utilizaram-se as bases de dados PubMed, Centro Latino-Americano e do Caribe de Informação em Ciências da Saúde (BIREME) e Web of Science, por meio dos descritores “caregiver”, “dementia”, “online” e “intervention”. Foram incluídos na revisão seis estudos internacionais que demonstraram, em geral, que essa modalidade de intervenção é aceitável, viável e passível de promover efeitos positivos na saúde, na qualidade de vida e no bem-estar dos cuidadores. Identificou-se a relevância de estudos futuros investigarem intervenções online síncronas com a implementação de medidas de follow-up e grupo controle, a fim de agregar mais evidências da efetividade e da viabilidade desse tipo de intervenção terapêutica.

Palavras-chave:
Cuidadores; Demência; Intervenção Baseada em Internet; Comunicação por Videoconferência

INTRODUCTION

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by decline in one or more cognitive domains, beyond that expected in normal aging. There are an estimated 50 million people living with dementia worldwide and a further 10 million new cases every year, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the most common type11 World Health Organization. Dementia. 2020 Sep. 21 [cited on Apr 10, 2021]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheet...
. The condition affects not only the individual with the disease but also their caregivers and family members who assist them in carrying out activities of daily living22 Diniz MA, Melo BR, Neri KH, Casemiro FG, Figueiredo LC, Gaioli CC, et al. Estudo comparativo entre cuidadores formais e informais de idosos. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2018;23(11):3789-98. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320182311.16932016
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018231...
, as well as dealing with the challenges posed by disease progression.

Women, particularly daughters or wives, predominantly perform this role33 Jesus IT, Orlandi AA, Zazzetta MS. Sobrecarga, perfil e cuidado: cuidadores de idosos em vulnerabilidade social. Rev Bras Geriatr Gerontol. 2018;21(2):194-204. https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-22562018021.170155
https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-22562018021...
, taking on multiple tasks and sometimes a triple workload that includes formal work, routine housekeeping, and caring for an elderly relative. This situation can lead to difficulties involving communication; division of tasks and relationships among family members; culminating in a high burden associated with stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms; and disruption in the family balance44 Falcão DV, Teodoro ML, Bucher-Maluschke JS. Family cohesion: a study on caregiving daughters of parents with Alzheimer’s disease. Interpersona. 2016;10(Supp1):61-74. https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v10isupp1.244
https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v10isupp1.2...
,55 Silva NP, Sardinha LS, Lemos VA. O impacto da doença de Alzheimer na saúde mental do cuidador. RDI. 2020;9(4):48-57 [cited on Apr 10, 2021]. Available from: https://revistas.brazcubas.br/index.php/dialogos/article/view/935
https://revistas.brazcubas.br/index.php/...
.

Given the numerous deleterious effects on the mental and physical health of caregivers, interventions have been devised aimed at improving the quality of life and well-being of this population. The main intervention approaches include (a) counseling and psychotherapy (individual, group, and family), (b) psychoeducation, (c) multicomponent interventions (combining several intervention strategies to address a range of caregiver needs), and (d) interventions based on full attention (employing mindfulness strategies and other meditation techniques)66 Cheng ST, Au A, Losada A, Thompson LW, Gallagher-Thompson D. Psychological interventions for dementia caregivers: What we have achieved, what we have learned. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2019;21(7):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1045-9
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1045-...
.

Interventions for caregivers can be in-person or face-to-face, by telephone, or over the Internet77 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Families caring for an aging America. Washington: The National Academies Press; 2016. https://doi.org/10.17226/23606
https://doi.org/10.17226/23606...
. Those conducted on the Internet can be synchronous and/or asynchronous. Synchronous interventions offer the advantage of having a prescheduled time and day, helping the caregiver prepare for and take part in interventions. Asynchronous interventions have the advantage that they can be performed at any time of the day, allowing the caregiver to engage in the activities when free to do so. However, this latter approach requires self-discipline and good organizing skills in order to be effective. Huis in het Veld et al.88 Huis in het Veld JG, Willemse BM, van Asch IF, Zwaaftink RB, Verkade PJ, Twisk JW, et al. Online self-management support for family caregivers dealing with behavior changes in relatives with dementia (part 2): Randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(2):e13001. https://doi.org/10.2196/13001
https://doi.org/10.2196/13001...
delivered an asynchronous intervention via email and videos involving 81 families of caregivers of persons with dementia. The study failed to obtain favorable results using this approach, reporting no improvement in the quality of life of participants. This poor outcome may have been due to the low engagement of family members regarding the materials delivered.

Boots et al.99 Boots LMM, Vugt ME, van Knippenberg RJM, Kempen GIJ, Verhey FRJ. A systematic review of internet-based supportive interventions for caregivers of patients with dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014;29(4):331-44. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.4016
https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.4016...
conducted a systematic review of online asynchronous and synchronous interventions for this population, concluding that Internet-based interventions are promising and can help improve caregiver well-being. The authors, however, highlighted that further studies are needed to develop and support protocols, as well as to confirm these positive findings.

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-19) pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has created a need to conduct health consultations remotely so as to reduce the risk of cross-contamination through close personal contact1010 Smith AC, Thomas E, Snonswell CL, Haydon H, Mehrotra A, Clemensen J, et al. Telehealth for global emergencies: implications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). J Telemed Telecare. 2020;26(5):309-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X20916567
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X20916567...
. This situation has prompted the need to adapt interventions for remote application and apply them online by videoconferencing (VC). Referred collectively as “telehealth”, these video calls take place live using software1111 Gately ME, Trudeau SA, Moo LR. In-home video telehealth for dementia management: implications for rehabilitation. Curr Geriatr Rep. 2019;8(3):239-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-019-00297-3
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-019-00297...
through which health professionals provide patients with advice and address their health needs.

Against this backdrop, and given the current importance of implementing online synchronous interventions for caregivers of persons with dementia, the objective of this study was to investigate, systematize, and present the results of studies published in the past 5 years on group and/or individual therapeutic interventions by VC for informal caregivers of this patient group.

METHODS

The present integrative review of the literature entailed a detailed search of the PubMed, BIREME, and Web of Science databases between September and October 2020. Relevant articles published in the past 5 years were searched. The search string employed the following English descriptors combined using Boolean operator AND: caregiver, dementia, online, and intervention. Articles were first screened based on title, with subsequent analysis of their respective abstracts.

After reading of abstracts, articles that met the following criteria were included: (1) original article, (2) published in Portuguese or English, (3) published in the past 5 years (January 2015 to September 2020) in indexed journals held on the selected databases, (4) studies involving the application of therapeutic group or individual interventions in human subjects online by VC, and (5) studies with interventions whose target population was informal caregivers of persons diagnosed with dementia. Criteria for study exclusion were (1) studies not including VC sessions with informal caregivers of persons with dementia, (2) studies not yet concluded, and (3) review articles, monographs, dissertations, theses, book chapters, or descriptions of intervention protocols.

The initial search of the databases led to the retrieval of 414 scientific studies: PubMed (n=165), BIREME (n=125), and Web of Science (n=124). After examination of titles, 70 studies were selected for reading of their respective abstracts. Based on the inclusion criteria, 13 articles were then selected for reading in full. After rejection of articles duplicated among the databases (n=8), five scientific studies were selected for inclusion in the review. A further complementary study was identified from references, giving a total of six articles for inclusion in the present review (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Flow diagram of literature search.

Two independent evaluators (first authors of the study) carried out a thorough analysis of the articles selected for full reading in order to appraise the suitability for inclusion in this integrative review of the literature, according to the abovementioned predefined selection criteria. The results of the two analyses by the evaluators were fully concordant on the studies shortlisted for inclusion in the review. The article contents were extracted according to the following categories: (1) author/year, (2) country of origin, (3) methodological design employed (staggered randomized waitlist, single group or with control group, involving both pre- and posttests or posttest only, including focus group or otherwise), (4) participants who underwent intervention, (5) description of intervention, (6) main findings, and (7) conclusion.

RESULTS

Of the six articles included in the review1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...

13 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...

14 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...

15 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...

16 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
-1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
, most were conducted in the United States1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
,1414 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...

15 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...

16 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
-1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
, while one study was carried out in Australia1313 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...
. With the exception of the study by Moskowitz et al.1616 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
, in which interventions were delivered individually, all studies1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...

13 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...

14 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...
-1515 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...
,1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
involved group-based interventions.

The majority of interventions were psychoeducational1414 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...

15 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...

16 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
-1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
, while one investigation involved an emotion-support intervention1313 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...
and another focused on educational and psychosocial support1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
. Despite the variability in the types of intervention delivered, all sessions using VC (group or individual) were conducted by an instructor or facilitator for all studies (Table 1).

Table 1
Online synchronous interventions for informal caregivers of people with dementia.

Overall, studies showed that interventions by VC in informal caregivers of persons with dementia were feasible, and all programs implemented support measures to assist participants with the use of the technology. These measures included making available devices to access sessions by VC, such as tablets and personal computers1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
,1313 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...
,1616 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
,1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
, individual training/guidance1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...

13 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...

14 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...

15 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...

16 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
-1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
, home-based visits to set up the computer software needed to run VC sessions or rectify Internet or hardware issues1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
, and provision of written instructions1414 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...
,1515 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...
,1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
.

Participant retention rates during intervention were high for all studies. More specifically, the study by Moskowitz et al.1616 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
(total of participants=170) had a high participation retention rate throughout the interventions for both the experimental group (89.0%) and control group (92.8%). Similarly, only three participants dropped out of the study by Banbury et al.1313 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...
(total of participants=69), six in the study of Kovaleva et al.1515 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...
(total of participants=36), seven in Griffiths et al.1414 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...
(total of participants=64), and only one participant dropped out of the study by Austrom et al.1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
(total of participants=5). Even better results were reported by Paun and Cothran1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
,with none of the five participants discontinuing.

All the studies showed acceptability of the interventions, as evidenced by quantitative and qualitative results postintervention (Table 1). In this regard, Griffiths et al.1414 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...
found significant improvement in scores on several measures of mental health of participants at posttest versus pretest (e.g., caregiver burden, depressive symptoms, and self-reported competence). In addition, positive effects were also evident at posttest in care recipients, such as a significant decrease in number of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) that occurred daily or more often and average BPSD frequency. Moreover, Austrom et al.1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
also observed posttest improvement on measures of caregiver well-being (e.g., anxiety, depression, physical health, controlling upsetting thoughts, and response to disruptive behavior) (Table 1).

Moskowitz et al.1616 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
noted a significantly greater improvement in scores for positive emotion, depression, anxiety, physical health, and positive aspects of care among participants delivered the intervention individually for regulating emotion (intervention group) versus control subjects (waitlist). The study by Banbury et al.1313 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...
, involving an intervention with socially or geographically isolated informal dementia caregivers, showed that, despite having little prior experience of using VC technology, most participants rated the tool positively. In addition, after completing the intervention, eight groups of carers continued to meet on a self-organized basis (Table 1).

With regard to the online modality of interventions, qualitative data from the study by Paun and Cothran1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
revealed that the participants experienced no problems emotionally engaging with other participants and felt supported and less guilty about their decision to institutionalize family members with dementia. Mirroring these findings, most of the participants of the study by Kovaleva et al.1515 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...
reported connectedness with the other carers and instructors and preferred the online mode of the program. Furthermore, the feedback given by participants on the intervention in the study of Austrom et al.1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
were also generally positive, with caregivers appreciative for convenience of being able to take part in the support group remotely (Table 1).

DISCUSSION

The objective of this review was to identify and present the results of studies published in the past 5 years (from January 2015 to September 2020) on synchronous online interventions by VC involving informal caregiver of people with dementia. This mode of delivery was found to be a valid approach for promoting access and adherence to psychoeducational and emotional support programs, particularly among caregivers unable to attend sessions in person. In addition, the VC interventions proved both feasible and acceptable, with potential to have positive effects on the quality of life of caregivers.

Of the six articles included in the review, only one1616 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
involved delivery of individual interventions in informal dementia caregivers. The study in question1616 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
entailed implementation of a positive emotion regulation program and promoted significantly greater improvement in caregivers’ mental health than that of control subjects (waitlist). However, the authors pointed out that, although delivery individually was likely a factor contributing to the high participant retention rates observed, the strategy is relatively high cost and difficult to reliably replicate on a large scale1616 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
. Thus, while individual remote delivery can aid access to participants for intervention implementation and data collection by researchers, group interventions appear to be more feasible than individual interventions.

While the studies reviewed were heterogeneous for some aspects of the interventions (e.g., number of participants, number of sessions, and aims), they were similar in other respects (e.g., target population, use of VC, sessions delivered by instructors/facilitators, and assistance on using the technology). Also, for all studies involving group interventions, these groups were closed, that is, further participants were not included over and above the initial group recruited. This homogeneity across the studies aided the analysis of their respective results.

Overall, the studies had high rates of retention of participants engaged in the intervention programs. This satisfactory adherence may have been due, in part, to the assistance given to participants on how to access and use the technology adopted, including provision of electronic devices, written instructions, and individual training. In the scientific literature, most previous studies in this field have involved face-to-face interventions, which are indeed the most typical modality employed. Therefore, the help given to participants in using the technology (e.g., VC software) appears to be a key element for success, as highlighted by half of the studies reviewed1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
,1313 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...
,1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
, where caregivers positively rated the help provided on using the technology.

The studies reported positive effects on carers who underwent the interventions. The studies in which analyses of quantitative data were carried out1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
,1414 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...
,1616 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
confirmed improvements in the quality of life of caregivers, particularly with respect to depressive symptoms, anxiety, and physical health. Qualitative data also revealed the positive effects of interventions: reduced feelings of loneliness and blame1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
, connectedness among participants1515 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...
,1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
, and the establishing of interpersonal networks among isolated caregivers after conclusion of the group intervention.1313 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...
Taken together, these results reiterate the potential of online interventions using VC for promoting health gains (physical and mental) and forming connections among participants of group programs.

Similarly, a previous review1818 Parra-Vidales E, Soto-Pérez F, Perea-Bartolomé MV, Franco-Martín MA, Muñoz-Sánchez JL. Online interventions for caregivers of people with dementia: a systematic review. Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2017;45(3):116-26. PMID: 28594057 also showed that online interventions for caregivers of people with dementia promoted positive effects among caregivers, showing potential to improve well-being. The study also demonstrated that both the direct contact among participants and presence of a professional facilitating the intervention appeared to be key factors favoring the mental health of participants and attainment of the goals of the interventions, respectively. In this respect, all the studies included in this review1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...

13 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...

14 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...

15 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...

16 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
-1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
involved at least one of these factors, whereas most1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...

13 Banbury A, Parkinson L, Gordon S, Wood D. Implementing a peer-support programme by group videoconferencing for isolated carers of people with dementia. J Telemed Telecare. 2019;25(9):572-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X19873793...

14 Griffiths PC, Kovaleva M, Higgins M, Langston AH, Hepburn K. Tele-Savvy: an online program for dementia caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2018;33(5):269-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331
https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518755331...
-1515 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...
,1717 Paun O, Cothran F. Chronic grief management: a live-streaming video, group-based intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia in long-term care. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2018;57(1):17-24. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180601-03
https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-2018060...
(5/6 articles) involved both. The presence of these factors is believed to have played a role in the positive results found for all the interventions reviewed.

Notably, only one study1616 Moskowitz JT, Cheung EO, Snowberg KE, Verstaen A, Merrilees J, Salsman JM, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a facilitated online positive emotion regulation intervention for dementia caregivers. Health Psychol. 2019;38(5):391-402. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000680...
included a control group for the purposes of comparison against the intervention group. The lack of a control group for the remaining studies in which quantitative analyses were carried out compromised the robustness of the method, precluding the drawing of causal inferences between the independent (intervention) and dependent (e.g., anxiety, depression, and burden) variables assessed. Moreover, none of the studies included or reported results on the follow-up of participants, rendering it impossible to determine whether the postintervention gains persisted over time. A follow-up analysis would have allowed assessment of the potential of interventions to promote long-term effects on caregivers.

Kovaleva et al.1515 Kovaleva M, Blevins L, Griffiths PC, Hepburn K. An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: lessons learned. J Appl Gerontol. 2019;38(2):159-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958
https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817705958...
found that the heterogeneity of the care situations among participants was identified by some individuals as a factor hampering a stronger connection with the other participants, while many carers expressed the desire for more information on the specific stages of the disease. The authors concluded that the program groups should be divided according to the profile of participants, for example, by disease stage of the care recipient. This finding suggests future online group psychoeducational interventions should be designed that taken these aspects into account, thereby promoting greater group cohesion and stronger connectedness among participants and allowing the specific needs of each stage to be met.

Only one of the studies reviewed1212 Austrom MG, Geros KN, Hemmerlein K, McGuire SM, Gao S, Brown SA, et al. Use of a multiparty web based videoconference support group for family caregivers: innovative practice. Dementia (London). 2015;14(5):682-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338
https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214544338...
reported availability of electronic devices and Internet access to all participants. Hence, although online remote synchronous interventions allow participation of a number of caregivers unable to attend sessions in person (e.g., during pandemics or because patient cannot be left alone), this raises questions on the more socioeconomically vulnerable caregivers who do not enjoy access to the Internet or electronic devices required for interventions. Future studies should explore feasible effective ways of including these individuals in their intervention programs for dementia caregivers.

Although the studies reviewed confirmed the feasibility and acceptability of online synchronous interventions by VC for caregivers of people with dementia, this review involved a relatively small number of studies (n=6), reducing the potential for generalization of results. Future studies could combine different key words to search a broader set of scientific databases and yield additional studies. Another study limitation was, of those studies incorporating quantitative data measure (n=3), only one employed a control group, reducing the power of results to some extent.

Investigations could be conducted that include follow-up of participants to determine whether the benefits promoted by interventions are maintained over time. Lastly, online synchronous interventions using VC for dementia caregivers proved feasible, exhibiting potential to enhance the quality of life and well-being of this population. Future studies should be conducted that report follow-up results and systematically investigate interventions of this modality with the inclusion of a control group.

  • This study was conducted by the Department of Psychobiology, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, and School of Arts, Science and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
  • Funding: This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, Brazil (CAPES) (Finance Code 001) to MFA and YLPS.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    11 Apr 2022
  • Date of issue
    Mar 2022

History

  • Received
    09 July 2021
  • Accepted
    20 Sept 2021
Academia Brasileira de Neurologia, Departamento de Neurologia Cognitiva e Envelhecimento R. Vergueiro, 1353 sl.1404 - Ed. Top Towers Offices, Torre Norte, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, CEP 04101-000, Tel.: +55 11 5084-9463 | +55 11 5083-3876 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revistadementia@abneuro.org.br | demneuropsy@uol.com.br