Orta Evre Alzheimer Hastalarının Bakım Verenlerine Yönelik Verilen Planlı Eğitim İle İzlemin Hasta ve Bakım Verenlerin Bakım Sonuçlarına Etkisi

Abstract

The aim of this quasi-experimental study is to evaluate the effect of planned education and follow-up given to caregivers of patients with middle-stage Alzheimer's diagnosis on caregiver burden, neuropsychiatric symptom frequency, and level of activities of daily living of patients. The study was carried out in Hacettepe University Adult Hospital Geriatrics Department between 01 August 2018 and 01 August 2020. The study sample consisted of 43 caregivers, 21 in the intervention group and 22 in the control group. The caregivers assigned the groups according to the admission to outpatient clinic. The study was completed in 12 weeks. The education was given to the caregivers in the intervention group in the 2nd and the 4th week. Eight weeks after completing the training constitutes the follow-up and follow-up period. Caregivers in the control group did not undergo any intervention other than their normal controls. Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Bakas Caregiver Impact Scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and Collaboration Study in Alzheimer's Disease – Activities of Daily Living scales were used for data collection. Data were collected both on the first day of the study and in the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks. As a result of the study, it was determined that planned education and follow-up prepared for caregivers of middle-stage Alzheimer's patients reduced the burden of care, but this decrease was not statistically significant. In the study, it was determined that the neuropsychiatric symptoms observed in the patient did not decrease, and the burden experienced by the caregivers due to these symptoms were reduced. But the decline of the caregivers' burden was not statistically significant. There was an increase in the level of dependence in the activities of daily living of the patients in the intervention control group. It is recommended to start the training programs for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients with the diagnosis, expand these programs, and increase their accessibility to support caregivers.