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Effectiveness of interventions that assist caregivers to support people with dementia living in the community: a systematic review
Parker D, Mills S, Abbey J.. International journal of evidence-based healthcare, 2008-06-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Results from comparable groups of studies were pooled in statistical meta-analysis using Review Manager Software from the Cochrane Collaboration. Results A comprehensive search of relevant databases, hand searching and cross referencing found 685 articles that were assessed for relevance to the review. Results from comparable groups of studies were pooled in statistical meta-analysis using Review Manager Software and heterogeneity between combined studies was assessed by using the chi-square test. The results are discussed in two main sections. Secondly, results are reported by main outcome category. Psycho-educational Thirteen studies used psycho-educational interventions, and all but one showed positive results across a range of outcomes. No significant impact of psycho-educational interventions was found for the outcome categories of subjective well-being, self-efficacy or health. However, small but significant results were found for the categories of depression and burden. Support Seven studies discussed support only interventions and two of these showed significant results. These two studies were suitable for meta-analysis and demonstrated a small but significant improvement on caregiver burden. Multi-component Twelve of the studies report multi-component interventions and 10 of these report significant outcomes across a broad range of outcome measures including self-efficacy, depression, subjective well-being and burden. Case management and a computer aided support intervention provided mixed results. Effectiveness of interventions using specific outcome categories In addition to analysis by type of intervention it was possible to analyse results based on some outcome categories that were used across the studies. This indicated that multi-component and psycho-educational interventions showed a small but significant positive effect on caregiver depression. Five studies using the outcome category of caregiver burden were entered into a meta-analysis and findings indicated that there were no significant effects of any of interventions.
Key findings
- Results from comparable groups of studies were pooled in statistical meta-analysis using Review Manager Software from the Cochrane Collaboration.
- Results A comprehensive search of relevant databases, hand searching and cross referencing found 685 articles that were assessed for relevance to the review.
- Results from comparable groups of studies were pooled in statistical meta-analysis using Review Manager Software and heterogeneity between combined studies was assessed by using the chi-square test.
- The results are discussed in two main sections.
- Secondly, results are reported by main outcome category.
Why it matters
This systematic review found that psycho-educational, support, and multi-component interventions for caregivers showed small but significant improvements in caregiver depression and burden, but no significant impact on subjective well-being, self-efficacy, or health. It is about supporting caregivers, not about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease itself.
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Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of evidence-based healthcare) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare: journal h-index 65 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 223 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.2 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Jennifer Abbey: h-index 14 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Queensland University of Technology: institution h-index 618 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21631819) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Parker, D., Mills, S., & Abbey, J. (2008). Effectiveness of interventions that assist caregivers to support people with dementia living in the community: a systematic review. International journal of evidence-based healthcare. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1609.2008.00090.x
Vancouver
Parker D, Mills S, Abbey J. Effectiveness of interventions that assist caregivers to support people with dementia living in the community: a systematic review. International journal of evidence-based healthcare. 2008. doi:10.1111/j.1744-1609.2008.00090.x. PMID: 21631819.
BibTeX
@article{parker2008-21631819,
author = {Parker, D. and Mills, S. and Abbey, J.},
title = {{Effectiveness of interventions that assist caregivers to support people with dementia living in the community: a systematic review}},
journal = {International journal of evidence-based healthcare},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1111/j.1744-1609.2008.00090.x},
pmid = {21631819},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1609.2008.00090.x}
}
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