The benefits of e-health support for older family caregivers in rural areas.
- Författare
- Blusi M, Dalin R, Jong M.
- Titel
- The benefits of e-health support for older family caregivers in rural areas.
- Utgivningsår
- 2014
- Tidskrift
- J Telemed Telecare
- Volym
- 20
- Häfte
- 2
- Sidor
- 63-9
- Sammanfattning
We conducted a pragmatic, mixed methods study comparing rural family caregivers
receiving e-health caregiver support (n = 35) with a control group (n = 21)
receiving conventional, non-e-health, caregiver support. After 18 months, the
benefits of support were evaluated using the Care Effectiveness Scale (40-items
exploring the domains of preparedness, enrichment and predictability). In all
domains the e-health group scored significantly higher than the control group.
The adjusted difference for overall benefits was 3.0 (P = 0.02) on the scale
0-10. In addition, semi structured interviews were conducted with a sub-sample of
the caregivers. For the e-health group flexibility, availability and being able
to individualise the support were essential factors. All caregivers in the
control group found conventional support to be beneficial, but also stressed
unmet needs related to the conventional support being standardised and
non-flexible. The study suggests that providers of caregiver support should offer
e-health support as an alternative to conventional caregiver support, as it can
be more beneficial to family caregivers.