The Experiences of Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia in Web-Based Psychoeducation Programs: Systematic Review and Metasynthesis

Abstract

Background Informal caregivers of people living with dementia experience a higher level of physical and mental stress compared with other types of caregivers. Psychoeducation programs are viewed as beneficial for building caregivers’ knowledge and skills and for decreasing caregiver stress. Objective This review aimed to synthesize the experiences and perceptions of informal caregivers of people with dementia when participating in web-based psychoeducation programs and the factors that enable and impede informal caregivers’ engagement in web-based psychoeducation programs. Methods This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute protocol of systematic review and meta-aggregation of qualitative studies. We searched 4 English databases, 4 Chinese databases, and 1 Arabic database in July 2021. Results A total of 9 studies written in English were included in this review. From these studies, 87 findings were extracted and grouped into 20 categories. These categories were further synthesized into 5 findings: web-based learning as an empowering experience, peer support, satisfactory and unsatisfactory program content, satisfactory and unsatisfactory technical design, and challenges encountered in web-based learning. Conclusions High-quality and carefully designed web-based psychoeducation programs offered positive experiences for informal caregivers of people living with dementia. To meet broader caregiver education and support needs, program developers should consider information quality and relevancy, the support offered, individual needs, flexibility in delivery, and connectedness between peers and program facilitators.

Preventive Effect of a 7-Week App-Based Passive Psychoeducational Stress Management Program on Students

“…On the one hand, active psychoeducation programs refer to a therapeutic setting with guidance and specific interventions, such as those found in group therapy [ 27 ]. Numerous studies suggest that active psychoeducation programs are effective in treating a variety of mental disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, or chronic pain disorders, but can also reduce caregivers’ burden (for a meta-analysis, see [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]). In addition, previous research has shown that active psychoeducational stress management training is also a successful intervention for university students to reduce stress, depression, and other psychological symptoms, although the effect size is rather small (e.g., meta-analyses and reviews by [ 32 , 33 ]).…”

Psychosocial interventions for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease and their caregivers: a scoping review

“…Psychosocial care includes a spectrum of services and therapies, spanning from educational interventions that systematically provide information to intensive one-on-one counseling sessions [ 14 ]. Psychosocial intervention has emerged as a therapeutic strategy designed to address the multifaceted challenges faced by ALS/MND patients and their caregivers [ 15 – 17 ]. Over the years, several psychosocial interventions have been developed and implemented to assist ALS/MND patients and their families to cope with the challenges posed by the disease [ 9 , 18 , 19 ].…”