Aims To explore the potential influence of the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) on social support in Parkinson disease (PD). Methods This was a quasi-experimental mixed methods design. Volunteers with PD (n=27) and care partners (n=6) completed the CDSMP, questionnaires of social support and self-management outcomes, and an interview about social support in relation to CDSMP participation. PD participants (n=19) who did not participate in the CDSMP completed the questionnaires for quantitative comparison purposes. Results Regarding the quantitative data, there were no significant effects of CDSMP participation on social support questionnaire scores; however, there were some positive correlations between changes in social support and changes in self-management outcomes from pre- to post-CDSMP participation. Three qualitative themes emerged from the interviews: lack of perceived change in amount and quality of social support, positive impact on existing social networks, and benefit from participating in a supportive PD community. Conclusions Although participants did not acknowledge major changes in social support, there were some social support-related benefits of CDSMP participation for PD participants and care partners. These findings provide a starting point for more in-depth studies of social support and self-management in this population.
Background and Objectives Most persons with dementia live at home, cared for by families with limited access to supportive services. We describe “Memory Care Home Solutions” (MCHS), a community-based dementia care program, and evaluate enrollees’ characteristics, strategies provided and implemented, and impact on adverse health-related events (emergency medical calls, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, falls) of persons with dementia. Research Design and Methods Retrospective observational study of MCHS’ Basic (5 contacts) and Enhanced (additional 4 occupational therapy contacts) services for enrolled caregivers (September 1, 2014 to March 31, 2016). In both programs, caregivers received dementia education, care strategies, and social support. For Enhanced, caregivers had additional opportunities to practice care strategies. Caregivers were interviewed by interventionists at intake, 3 and 6 months (in-person or telephone). Results Of 717 enrolled caregivers, most were female (73.1%), nonspouses (58.2%), Caucasian (70.8%), 63.02 (standard deviation [SD] = 13.20) years old, and caring for persons with dementia of low income (54.1%, <$39,000). Caregivers reported managing on average 11.64 (SD = 4.64) behavioral symptoms and high functional dependence (6 instrumental activities of daily living [IADLs]; 2 activities of daily living [ADLs]). Caregivers opting for Enhanced (N = 314, 44.9%) were older (p = .025), spouses (p = .002), reported greater distress with behaviors (p = .051), and managed higher dependence (ADLs, p = .018; IADLs, p = .002) than caregivers in Basic (N = 403, 56.2%). Of 1,462 strategies offered, 68.9% were implemented with no differences in implementation rate between the 2 programs. Of 279 families with follow-up, 53.4% (N = 149) reported ≥1 adverse health-related events over 3-months pre-enrollment. By 3-months post-enrollment, 27.2% (N = 76) reported ≥1 adverse events; reflecting a 51.0% reduction in caregivers reporting events (p < .0005). African Americans, Whites, spouses, and nonspouses benefited similarly. Discussion and Implications MCHS offers brief supportive services, resulting in fewer adverse health-related events of persons with dementia. Families managing high functional dependence opted for more assistance from occupational therapists. Evaluating real-world programs yields new understandings of caregiver service preferences for staff planning.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.