Are support groups effective for family caregivers of people with dementia?

Resumen

INTRODUCCIÓN: Support groups are one of the most common interventions for caregivers to reduce theemotional discomfort associated with care.OBJETIVOS: To evaluate the effectiveness of a supportive intervention on stress, social support andproblem-solving skills of family caregivers of people with dementia.METODOLOGÍA: 10 Family caregivers of people diagnosed with dementia from the city of Salamancaparticipated; 6 were women (3 daughters and 3 wives) and 4 men (3 sons and 1 husband). The interventionconsisted of eight weekly sessions of 90 minutes. A pre-post intervention evaluation was performed with ThePerceived Stress Scale –PSS-, The Adaptation of The Psychosocial Support Questionnaire –PSQ- and TheSocial Problem Solving Inventory-Revised: Short Form –SPSI-R:S-.RESULTADOS: Regarding stress, a non-significant reduction was found between pre and post scores(t=1,860, p-value=0,096) and a clinically reliable change was observed only in 10% of the participants, andan indeterminate change in 90% (most of them with a positive trend). The group data also showed nonsignificant differences in social support (t=-0,195, p-value=0,847). 10% Showed a clinically reliable change,and 90% an indeterminate change (only three caregivers with a positive trend). Finally, in problem-solvingskills the group data did not show significant differences (t=0,135, p-value=0,896). 100% Of the participantsshowed an indeterminate change (half of them with a positive trend, four with a negative trend and onewithout variation between pre-post scores).CONCLUSIÓN: In spite of its wide use, the results of this study confirm that supportive interventions do notimprove the situation of family caregivers in terms of stress, social support and problem-solving skills.Therefore, it is recommendable to use other types of interventions.