Outcomes of Interventions for Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers in Mexico

Abstract

The study examines which of three interventions of cognitive conduct, laughter, or a mixed intervention including both cognitive conduct and laughter components, is more effective for improvement of attitudes toward care and reduction of anxiety among female Mexican caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s disease. A repeated measures quasi-experimental design with four groups, three experimental and a control group, was used. All intervention groups received cognitive conduct, laughter, or a mixed intervention weekly for 8 weeks. The control group received information about home accident prevention. Outcome measurements were performed at baseline, Week 4, end of the intervention (Week 8), and 4 weeks following the intervention completion. A repeated measures ANOVA was used for each outcome variable and the Tukey’s post hoc analysis to determine group differences. Results suggest that the cognitive conduct component significantly improved positive attitudes toward care and reduced anxiety both at the end of the intervention and at follow-up.