J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ.  2019 Feb;25(1):103-114. 10.5977/jkasne.2019.25.1.103.

The Effects of a Support Program for Family Caregivers of Elderly with Dementia on Empowerment and Attitudes toward Dementia

• Kim SY
• Jeong S

• KMID: 2441693
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2019.25.1.103

Abstract

PURPOSE
This research was conducted to identify the effects of providing support programs to families of elderly with dementia on family empowerment and attitudes toward dementia.
METHODS
A nonequivalent control group pre- and post-test design was used. Participants were 49 family caregivers, experimental (24) and control (25), recruited from families through a dementia support center in Y district. This program implemented Haearim, a support program for family caregivers of demented elders developed by the National Institute of Dementia in 2016. Outcome measures were empowerment and attitudes toward to dementia. Data were analyzed with a χ2-test, independent t-test, Fisher's exact probability test, paired t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS/PC version 20.0.
RESULTS
Family empowerment (F=6.84, p=.002) and family caregivers' attitudes (F=16.48, p < .001) toward dementia in the experimental group improved significantly more than that of the control group after intervention.
CONCLUSION
Results indicate that support programs for families of elderly with dementia are effective in positively changing empowerment and attitudes toward dementia among family caregivers.

Keyword

Dementia; Family; Empowerment; Attitudes

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Caregivers*
Dementia*
Humans
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Power (Psychology)*