Exploring the Validation Approach in Supporting Carers of People with Dementia
Problem. Cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia negatively influence dyads of person living with dementia and his/her informal caregiver. Especially communication problems are associated with higher caregiver burden. Psychosocial interventions, including validation concept according to Naomi Feil as a therapeutic communication method, could be useful to strengthen mutual relationship. The aim of this study was to investigate the use and effect of the validation concept on caregiver burden and its factors (social support and caregiver experience) in informal caregivers of people with dementia.
Method/Analysis. We included 115 dyads of informal caregivers (mean age 54.0±12.4 years; 81.7% women; mean caregiving duration 4.8±4.8 years) and persons living with dementia (mean age 80.5±8.3 years; 73.0% women) in Slovakia. The cognitive level of people with dementia was assessed by the Short IQCODE. Other measures included the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12), the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3), and the Positive Aspects of Caregiving Scale (PACS). Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlations, t-tests, and Chi-square test, regression analyses were used to analyse the data (IBM SPSS 27).
Results/Discussion. Validation concept was used by 22.4% of informal caregivers. The ZBI-12 mean score was 17.9±9.9. The Chi-square test did not reveal significant differences between caregiver burden and applying validation concept. Higher caregiver burden was significantly associated with lower perceived social support (β=0.33, p<0.01) and with lower positive caregiving experience (β=0.33, p<0.01) among informal caregivers of people with dementia, after controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables.
Conclusion. Long-term care for a family spouse living with dementia is an extremely challenging process that may leave the informal caregiver little space to pay sufficient attention to factors of caregiver burden. For these reasons, it requires the provision of the psychosocial non-pharmacological interventions effective in reducing caregiver burden. (Grant support: APVV-22-0587)
1|Zuzana Katreniakova|P J Safarik University in Kosice|Department of Social and Behavioural Medicine|Slovakia|
2|Iveta Nagyova|P J Safarik University in Kosice|Department of Social and Behavioural Medicine|Slovakia|