Pilot Test of Aprendiendo Juntos/Learning Together Demonstrates Improved Self-Efficacy for Providing Care Among Latino Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia

TL;DR

A 6-week program called Aprendiendo Juntos improved Latino caregivers' confidence in caring for loved ones with dementia.

Contribution

A culturally adapted psychoeducational program for Latino dementia caregivers was piloted and shown to improve self-efficacy.

Findings

The intervention group showed significantly higher self-efficacy in care provision compared to the control group.

Caregiver confidence in managing complex care and medical symptoms improved significantly.

The positive effects of the program were sustained for 24 weeks.

Abstract

Few interventions have been culturally and linguistically adapted to address Latino family caregivers’ unique needs for support in providing dementia care.

We sought to pilot test the Aprendiendo Juntos/Learning Together intervention in increasing self-efficacy for care provision among Latino caregivers.

Using a randomized waitlist controlled design, 50 Latino family caregivers were assigned to either the immediate intervention group (IIG) or waitlist control group (WLG). The intervention was a 6-week psychoeducational program, delivered weekly via a video-conferencing platform, addressing topics around care provision such as communication, home safety, and medication management. Caregivers were assessed at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks. The primary outcome was caregiver self-efficacy at 12 weeks, with secondary outcomes including caregiver confidence, global health, and appraisal of behavioral symptoms of dementia. Between-group differences were examined using independent t-tests and multivariable linear regression, controlling for potential confounders.

Caregiver self-efficacy significantly improved in the IIG compared with the WLG (P = .042) with a moderate effect size (d = 0.64). Confidence in providing complex care also increased significantly in the IIG (P = .002), demonstrating a strong effect size (d = 1.00). In addition, 2 of the 4 subscales of the Caregiver Confidence in Medical Sign/Symptom Management scale—managing cognitive signs/symptoms and general medical management/responsiveness—showed significant improvements (d = 0.95, P = .004 and d = 0.99, P = .003, respectively). Sustainability of intervention effects at 24 weeks was observed in the IIG.

The findings support the efficacy of the intervention in increasing self-efficacy in providing complex care to their family members with dementia among Latino caregivers.

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