Effect of Nature Videos on the Burden of Caregivers of Patients With Dementia

Abstract

Objective: Caregivers of people with dementia (PWD) often face burdens, but engaging in traditional mindfulness practices and spending time in nature can enhance positive emotions. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of nature videos in reducing burden, anxiety, and depression among caregivers of PWD in Thailand. As caregivers are often time poor, a brief 10-minute online mindfulness session was designed to make participation more feasible.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial assigned 47 eligible individuals to 2 groups. The experimental group received dailynature videos for 4 weeks, while the control group received daily self-care guidance. The 12-item Zarit Burden Interview (12-item ZBI), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were used to assess caregivers' burden at baseline and the 4-week follow-up. Recruitment occurred from March 2023 to February 2024.

Results: The mean age was 50.59 years. On average, participants watched videos for 11.49 minutes per day, and the duration was 23 days. Both groups showed a significant decrease in burden at follow-up, but the between-group changes of 12-item ZBI were not significantly different. Brief mindfulness interventions reduced PHQ-9 scores by 4.14 points (P<.001) and increased CD-RISC scores by 5.68 points (P=.001). GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were significantly positively correlated with the 12-item ZBI (r=0.55, P<.001, and r=0.42, P=.005, respectively).

Conclusion: Brief mindfulness interventions through nature videos and receiving self-care advice can reduce the burden among caregivers of PWD and reduce levels of depression.

Trial Registration: Dataset from study at Thaiclinicaltrials.org identifier: TCTR20230216001.