Dementia caregiver interventions in Chinese people: A systematic review

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the characteristics and the efficacy of dementia caregiving interventions among the Chinese population.

Background: In recent years, an increasing number of dementia caregiving interventions have been developed for Chinese older adults living in Asia that aim to reduce caregivers' burden, depression and distress, and enhance quality of life. Little is known, however, on the nature and the efficacy of these interventions.

Design: Systematic review with narrative summary.

Data sources: We searched four databases for studies published in English between 1 January 1994-30 December 2017. Nineteen studies reported in 23 articles were included in the final analysis.

Review methods: We used a set of criteria from the Cochrane Collaboration tool to assess for the risk of bias across studies.

Results: We found that interventions varied in length, frequency, approach, and content, making comparisons across studies challenging. Caregivers' burden, depression, and distress were improved among most included studies. All studies that examined quality of life of caregivers (N = 6) showed improvement. Most of the interventions showed beneficial effects on care recipients' behavioural symptoms, agitation, and depression; cognitive function, however, failed to improve.

Conclusion: Although the review found mixed results on intervention outcomes, the majority of interventions showed a potential to improve the health and well-being of dementia caregivers and care recipients. This review provides suggestions for future dementia caregiving research in the Chinese population, such as inclusion of relevant theoretical frameworks and more rigorous research designs.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Chinese; caregiving; cognitive impairment; dementia; intervention; nursing; older adults; systematic review.