Effectiveness of a telephone intervention based on motivational health coaching for improving the mental health of caregivers of people with dementia: A randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVES
Caring for a family member with dementia is considered one of the activities with the greatest negative impact on a person's mental health. Developing long-lasting and effective strategies is a challenge for caregivers. This study sought to evaluate the impact of an intervention based on a programme of motivational coaching delivered by telephone in a group of caregivers of patients with dementia compared to a control group.


METHODS
A randomised controlled trial with a control group and an intervention group. (CONSORT guidelines were used). Telephone calls were made during six weeks, involving a process of coaching and motivational interviews. The following variables were measured in caregivers: self-efficacy of caring, depression, perceived stress, frequency of problematic behaviours and dysfunctional thoughts. Assessments were conducted at three time points: baseline, post-intervention and three months' post-intervention.


RESULTS
In total, 106 caregivers participated (53 subjects in the control group and 53 in the intervention group). Statistically significant differences (ANCOVA) were found between both groups for the self-efficacy and stress variables, with improved results in the intervention group (p < .01). Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found in the intervention group between the baseline and post-intervention assessments, with improvements in self-efficacy, decreased stress and decreased dysfunctional thoughts (p < .05). The results were maintained over time for both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
An intervention based on telephone calls using a health coaching approach with motivational interviewing appears to be effective for the improvement of self-efficacy and mental health of caregivers of people with moderate dementia. Furthermore, these effects appear to be maintained over time.
['Sarabia-Cobo|Carmen|C|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7929-4042', 'Pérez|Victoria|V|', 'de Lorena|Pablo|P|', 'Sáenz-Jalón|María|M|', 'Alconero-Camarero|Ana Rosa|AR|']
D017028:Caregivers D003704:Dementia D006801:Humans D008603:Mental Health D000071252:Mentoring D011788:Quality of Life D013689:Telephone
coaching caregivers dementia randomised controlled trial motivational interviewing eHealth older people