Effectiveness of Internet-Based Psychoeducation in Reducing Caregiver Burden in Dementia: A Clinical Trial

Jalal  Mirabdollah; Fateme  Mehrzad; Habibollah  Rahimi; Behnam  Shariati; Fatemeh Sadat  Ghoreishi

doi:10.18502/ijps.v21i3.21861

Jalal Mirabdollah Department of Psychiatry, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Fateme Mehrzad Department of Psychiatry, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Habibollah Rahimi Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Behnam Shariati Mental Health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fatemeh Sadat Ghoreishi Department of Psychiatry, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v21i3.21861

Keywords: Caregiver Burden; Caregivers; Dementia; Health Education; Internet-Based Intervention; Telemedicine

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of online psychoeducational training on reducing the psychological burden of caregivers of patients with moderate to severe dementia. Caring for such patients, especially by non-professional caregivers, poses significant mental and physical challenges. Internet-based interventions offer a practical and innovative solution to help alleviate this burden.

Method: This clinical trial was conducted in 2023 in Kashan, Iran, with 84 caregivers of patients with moderate to severe dementia. Participants were divided into two groups: an intervention group (n = 42) and a control group (n = 42). The intervention group received a 20-session online psychoeducational program over eight weeks, while the control group received routine care. Caregiver burden was measured using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. Data analysis included independent t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA.

Results: Baseline characteristics of caregivers in both groups were homogeneous in most variables, except for education level, which differed significantly (P = 0.006). Repeated measures of the general linear model (GLM) analysis revealed a significant reduction in caregiver burden in the intervention group (P = 0.014). Within-group analysis showed that the burden significantly decreased immediately after the training. Although a slight increase was observed at the three-month follow-up, it remained lower than the baseline (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Online psychoeducational training significantly reduces the psychological burden of dementia patient caregivers, with sustained effectiveness over a three-month follow-up. These findings support the integration of digital psychoeducation as a viable alternative or complement to traditional interventions, particularly in resource-limited or high-need settings.