Comparative Effectiveness of 2 Interventions for Hispanic Caregivers of Persons with Dementia

To compare the effectiveness of 2 caregiver interventions with known efficacy: the Resources for Enhancing Caregiver Health-Offering Useful Treatment (REACH-OUT) and the New York University Caregiver Intervention (NYUCI).

1:1 randomized pragmatic trial.

New York City.

Informal Hispanic caregivers of persons with dementia (N=221; mean age 58.2, 82.8% female, 63.3% adult children, 31.7% spouses).

Participants were randomized to 6 months of NYUCI (n=110) or REACH-OUT (n=111), balanced on characteristics at baseline. All participants were referred for social supportive services.

The primary outcomes were changes between baseline and 6 months in depressive symptoms, measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and caregiver burden, measured using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS).

There were no differences in outcomes between NYUCI and REACH-OUT. Both interventions showed a reduction in burden (REACH-OUT: 5.2 points, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.2-8.1, p<.001; NYUCI: 4.6-points, 95% CI=1.7-7.5, p=.002). There were no significant changes on the GDS. Effects for the ZCBS were significant only for spouses and older caregivers.

Although there were no significant intervention group differences, both interventions resulted in significantly reduced burden for Hispanic caregivers at 6 months, particularly for spouses and older caregivers.