Effects of e-Health Training and Social Support Interventions for Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia—A Narrative Review

Esther Sitges-Maciá, Beatriz Bonete-López, Antonio Sánchez-Cabaco and Javier Oltra-Cucarella
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Esther Sitges-Maciá: Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
Beatriz Bonete-López: Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
Antonio Sánchez-Cabaco: Psychology Department, Pontifical University of Salamanca, 37002 Salamanca, Spain
Javier Oltra-Cucarella: Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: Along with the burden commonly experienced by informal caregivers (ICs) of people with dementia (PwD), associated with the progressive decline that accompanies dementia, the lockdown due to the public health crisis has had a great negative impact on the emotional wellbeing, physical health, and social relationships of ICs. Support interventions through telemedicine represent an opportunity for ICs to learn the skills required for the care and maintenance of social networks. In this work, a narrative review of the effects of e-health training and social support interventions was carried out. A literature search was conducted using the ProQuest, Ovid, and Scopus databases. Information regarding social support (SS), psychological interventions, and training for the management of medications and behavioral changes was extracted. One hundred and nine studies were included in this review. Forums and training platforms were the main tools for ICs. The most effective platforms to improve SS include the participation of both ICs and health professionals. However, no significant improvements in objective caring skills were identified. Platforms developed specifically for ICs should be based in tools that ICs are familiar with, because many ICs have not yet incorporated Information and Communication Technologies in many activities of their daily lives. Education in the digitalization to ICs of PwD should be one of the priority objectives in telehealth interventions.

Keywords: e-health; informal caregivers; dementia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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