Goal Attainment and Treatment Compliance in a Cognitive-Behavioral Telephone Intervention for Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia

Abstract

Introduction: The evaluation of effective interventions is still needed to prevent family caregivers of persons with dementia from becoming physically or mentally ill. However, in most existing intervention studies, primary outcomes are not well matched to the treatment goals. Method: A randomized controlled trial (N = 229) was conducted to compare a treatment group (CBT), a treated control group, and an untreated control group. In theses analyses we focused on the primary outcome measurement (GAS) as a perceived treatment success as well as treatment compliance and participants’ evaluation. Results: Results showed that 30.1% achieved complete goal attainment, 39.8% partial goal attainment, and 24.1% declared no change (overachievement 2.4%; deterioration 3.6%). Discussion: The intervention can be considered to have been successful.

The effects of treatment adherence and treatment-specific therapeutic competencies on outcome and goal attainment in telephone-based therapy with caregivers of people with dementia

“…This is the first study that has investigated the relationship of therapists' competence and goal attainment. The most frequently mentioned problem areas reported by caregivers in this study for defining therapy goals were: behavioral problems and personality changes in the dementia patient; social isolation of the caregiver; lack of professional support; and neglecting one's own high levels of stress (Wilz et al, 2011). The results suggest that CBT is suitable for caregivers' specific problems and goals.…”

“…For further information about the treatment, see Wilz et al (2011) and Schink€ othe and Wilz (2014).…”

“…Therapists' adherence and competence were assessed in a telephone-based intervention study for caregivers of people with dementia, the TeleTAnDem study (Wilz et al, 2011). The primary goal was to evaluate the effectiveness 2 D. Schink€ othe et al…”

“…It records the client's perception of the effects of therapy, predicts the success of outcome, evaluates individual progress toward specific goals, and allows measurement of clients' and therapists' agreement about goal attainment (Schlosser, 2004). Especially for caregivers of people with dementia, who have multiple problems and vary in what they need from and expect of treatment, GAS can be a responsive outcome measurement, as was shown in a review by Hurn et al (2006) for rehabilitation of older people and in a study by Wilz, Schink€ othe, and Soellner (2011) for caregivers of people with dementia.…”

Evaluation eines kognitiv-behavioralen Gruppenkonzepts für pflegende Angehörige von Demenzerkrankten

“…[ 30 ] . Daher sollten in zukünftigen Studien durch aufsuchende oder telefonische Interventionen mehr pfl egende Angehörige erreicht und dadurch Studiendesigns mit Randomisierung und Subgruppenanalysen realisiert werden [ 15 ] . Insgesamt zeigte sich weiterhin, dass nicht nur die Situation der Angehörigen selbst positiv verändert, sondern auch die Pfl egesituation der Demenzerkrankten durch eine verzögerte Institutionalisierungsrate positiv beeinfl usst werden konnte.…”